Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Another signing, another need addressed. The Jaguars’ foray into 2018 free agency continued into the evening Thursday, with the day’s final signing addressing the tight-end position. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, a sixth-year tight end and former second-round selection in the NFL Draft, on Thursday signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent. The Jaguars made the signing official on Thursday evening. “I’ve been through ups and downs in this league; I’ve seen a lot of guys go and a lot of guys come,” Seferian-Jenkins said. “It’s a big carousel. I feel very fortunate that I have this opportunity.” Seferian-Jenkins (6-feet-5, 262 pounds) said he quickly connected with Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone. “I love Coach Marrone,” he said. “He’s a cool dude. He’s from the Bronx. I kind of vibe with him. [Tight ends] Coach [Ron] Middleton is a great tight ends coach and Coach [Offensive Coordinator Nate] Hackett is a phenomenal OC. They have a great quarterback in Blake Bortles. They have a lot of pieces. … “There are pieces all over the place. The offense is really coming together right now. I had to jump on the opportunity. This opportunity doesn’t come around a lot.” Seferian-Jenkins, a second-round selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2014 NFL Draft, played his first three seasons with the Buccaneers before his release shortly after a September 2016 driving-under-the-influence charge. He caught 45 passes for 603 yards and seven touchdowns for the Buccaneers. He spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets, catching 60 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. He caught 50 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns this past season. “I think it’s an opportunity they’ve given me, and there are going to be other guys coming in here and competing for that opportunity as well,” he said. “I feel like I can do that fairly well and I feel like there are things that need to improve in my game to be that guy they need me to be. That’s what the offseason is for and I’m excited to attack the offseason.” Seferian-Jenkins played collegiately at the University of Washington. “I’m really thankful for the opportunity the Jacksonville Jaguars have given me to come here and compete with an already-great team, an already-great team and already-great coaches – with a pedigree to win,” he said. “I feel very fortunate and thankful that I have the opportunity to come here and play football.”

Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

OFFICIAL: Seferian-Jenkins signs