Tyler Eifert agrees to terms with Jacksonville Jaguars

Former Notre Dame football standout and longtime Cincinnati Bengal Tyler Eifert has agreed to a two year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After spending the first seven years of his career in Cincinnati, Tyler Eifert has taken his talents to Duval County in Jacksonville for the next two years.

According to Ian Rapoport, Eifert inked a two-year deal worth $15.5 million, with a majority of the pay incentivized.

Tyler Eifert was one of the most gifted tight ends to ever come out of South Bend, finishing his Irish career with 140 receptions, 1,840 yards, and 11 touchdowns in just three seasons. He was taken by the Bengals with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft where he quickly became one of the league’s best at the position.

In year three, Eifert had a career-best season leading all tight ends with 13 receiving touchdowns, racking up 615 receiving yards, and being selected to his only Pro Bowl to-date.

The biggest knock on Eifert’s career thus far has been his health and longevity – and for good reason. As incredible as his 2015 season was, the fact that he’s missed nearly half of his potential regular-season games since entering the league (59/112) is just as equally concerning.

Only three times during his carer thus far has Eifert surpassed 10 games played in a season, with his first full 16-game season coming just last year. Outside of those three years, he’s had seasons playing in 1, 8, 2, and 4 games.

Obviously that is never a good knock to have on a career, but when Eifert has been healthy and on the field, he’s proved to be a difference-maker. In those 59 games he’s played in, Eifert has recorded 185 receptions for 2,152 yards and 24 touchdowns.

And while he has yet to return to his elite play-making status of 2015, it doesn’t mean the 29-year old never will or that his best days are behind him. As was previously mentioned, he played all 16 games last year and posted the most receiving yards (436) in a season since his Pro Bowl year.

It is also worth noting that Eifert has proven to be an impact player in the run game as well as in pass protection. In 2019, according to Pro Football Focus, Eifert surrendered zero pressures, sacks, or quarterback hits in 112 pass blocks, earning him a career-best blocking score of 79.6.

The move to Jacksonville could prove to be a perfect location for Eifert to resurrect his career. He re-joins his former offensive coordinator from Cincinnati Jay Gruden and becomes an immediate weapon for the Jaguars offense.

The Jacksonville offense hasn’t seen any tight end production since Marcedes Lewis posted 318 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in 2017. Last year, the position was a liability for rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew and the Jags offense, as James O’Shaughnessy tore his ACL, Geoff Swaim suffered a concussion, and Seth DeValve and Josh Oliver were just plug players that added little value.

While there’s no guarantee Eifert will return to his 2015-self, it is very clear his best football is not behind him. Another healthy year with him as a main focal point of the offense could make for both Eifert and the Jaguars coming away as winners of this deal.