Johnny Mundt hits the market after Jaguars move on from the tight end

For johnny mundt, the math of his last contract is now the story of his next job search. A two-year agreement with the Jacksonville Jaguars was built to run through 2026 for $5. 5 million in total payout, but it ended after one year and $2. 75 million. Now, he is back on the market as a veteran tight end teams can pursue.

The decision puts a familiar name into the middle of free agency, not because of a blockbuster signing, but because the Jaguars chose to cut the deal short. It also reopens old connections: Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has spoken glowingly about Mundt for years, and Detroit is looking for tighter answers in its tight end room after last season’s injuries.

Jacksonville Jaguars and a contract that stopped after one year

The Jaguars released Mundt despite the contract being designed to last through 2026. The structure, as described, allowed Jacksonville to end it after one season, and that is what happened. Mundt ultimately received $2. 75 million out of the $5. 5 million total that had been attached to the two-year agreement.

In the simplest terms, the move reflects the one-way nature of NFL contracts. The Jaguars decided Mundt did not do enough in 2025 to justify paying him $2. 75 million in 2026. The same structure that let the team walk away also meant that, if Mundt had outperformed and sought a raise, the contract could have been used to hold him to the existing terms.

That contrast is part of why his release landed as more than a transaction line. It is a reminder that the biggest headlines about spending can skip past the smaller, sharper outcomes for individual players: the deal was real, the years were written down, and still it ended early.

Kevin O’Connell and why johnny mundt keeps coming up in Minnesota

Mundt’s availability matters because O’Connell has made it clear, repeatedly, that he values what Mundt brings. O’Connell once said, “You guys know I’m always good for some Johnny Mundt talk, ” and described a player who shows up in different ways: a pass here, a block there, technique, poise, and being in the right spot. O’Connell also pointed to how Mundt worked with Josh Oliver, and framed those details as the kind coaches gravitate toward.

Mundt spent three seasons with the Vikings. His role shifted as the room changed, including after T. J. Hockenson arrived, but he remained part of the rotation. In 2022, he appeared in all 17 games and started 12, catching 19 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. In 2023, he did not start a game and slid to third on the depth chart after Oliver arrived, yet still caught 17 passes for 172 yards and a score. Another season produced 19 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

After Hockenson’s injury in 2023, O’Connell said Mundt would be used more on third downs and called him “a jack of all trades kinda guy, ” describing how Mundt stayed ready by taking reps behind Hockenson in critical moments. He also referred to Mundt as the best TE3 in football.

The Vikings’ current tight end picture, as described, leaves room for that exact archetype. Hockenson is expected to be around for another season, and Oliver as well. Behind them, Minnesota relied on rookie Ben Yurosek last season, and draftee Gavin Bartholomew missed the entire season with a back injury. The fit being discussed is not as a featured target, but as familiar depth behind Hockenson and Oliver, the same type of role Mundt held in 2023 and 2024.

Detroit Lions, Drew Petzing, and the TE2 conversation

Detroit is another team tied to the news, even if only by need and timing. When Drew Petzing was hired as the Lions’ offensive coordinator this offseason, there was discussion about a greater emphasis on the tight end position. Tight end has not always been framed as the biggest priority, but the season’s injuries pushed it into focus.

After Sam LaPorta suffered a season-ending injury in Week 10, Detroit struggled to get much from the rest of its tight end rotation. When Brock Wright landed on injured reserve, the Lions were left without reliable options. LaPorta and Wright are expected back healthy for next season and are under contract, along with Zach Horton and Thomas Gordon, but the position is still described as a “sneaky need” for the roster.

Mundt’s profile fits that specific kind of search. He has been characterized as one of the better blocking tight ends on the market, and his production has been more modest as a receiver. His career highs are listed as 19 receptions and 172 yards in a season, and he has mostly played as a TE2, taking many snaps as a pass blocker.

His 2025 season in Jacksonville included a career-best 78. 9 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, a number that is compared favorably to the tight ends who played for Detroit last season. Wright, described as having the inside track to be Detroit’s TE2 entering training camp, has never had a pass-blocking grade above 64. 0 and posted a 53. 2 last season, while finishing with 14 catches for 108 yards.

For Mundt, the release closes one contract early and opens another possibility immediately. The next step is simply the market itself—teams weighing what a veteran tight end can provide, and whether the value O’Connell once described, or the blocking grade Detroit’s situation highlights, leads to a new deal.