Thomas joins a franchise quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, who has the arm strength to take advantage of Thomas’ vertical speed, and an established receiving group on the roster, which should ease the pressure on the rookie.
“He is an explosive athlete. “He can help open up the field a little bit,” general manager Trent Baalke stated. “He’s certainly a younger receiver for Trevor to build around and our offence to build around.”
The Jaguars do not have a stellar history of drafting receivers. Only two of the 31 players drafted before 2024 have achieved 1,000-yard seasons: Allen Robinson II (2015) and DJ Chark Jr. (2019), both second-round picks. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is tied with three other teams for the fewest drafted receivers to reach 1,000 yards since 1995.
Thomas is the fifth wide receiver the Jaguars have drafted in the first round. None of the previous four reached 2,500 career receiving yards. The Jaguars are hoping Thomas can buck that trend.
“He’s a guy that brings a skill set that we haven’t necessarily had to that level. He’s [6-foot-3], 209 pounds and he runs a sub 4.4 [40-yard dash]. He’s got the production to back it up,” Baalke said. “We’re just looking forward to getting him in here, getting our hands on him and going to work.”
Thomas has good height and speed, and his production at LSU matched those measurables. He led the nation with 17 touchdown catches last season, including 12 of 20 or more yards, which is the most by any FBS player in a season since ESPN began tracking air yards in 2011. The entire Jaguars team had seven touchdowns of 20 or more air yards in 2023.
Former LSU standouts Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson (20 and 18, respectively, in 2019) had more TD catches in a season than Thomas, but neither matched Thomas’ downfield TD production. He also caught 10 TD passes on go or fade routes last season.
Chase, Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr. are the NFL measuring sticks when it comes to former LSU receivers. All became No. 1 receivers, and Chase and Jefferson are regarded as two of the top players in the NFL. That’s a tough legacy for Thomas — as well as former LSU standout Malik Nabers, taken sixth overall by the New York Giants — to follow.
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“I’m just trying to be myself,” Thomas explained. “I don’t feel like I have to meet any expectations. I’m just going to come out there, work hard, and do my best.”
The Jaguars now have a player in Thomas who is designed to improve red zone performance. Last season, they were 21st in red zone touchdown percentage (50%). Lawrence now has a taller receiver with big hands to target, capable of winning 50-50 throws and being targeted on end zone fades. The only receiver on the roster taller than 6-2 is second-year player Elijah Cooks (6-4), with only three career catches.
“Great size, great size,” coach Doug Pederson declared. “[Thomas is] big, tall, has a great route tree, and can complete all of the routes. As you can see, he can easily remove the top. He will also see a variety of coverages. He’ll see slightly better secondary players. The SEC has good coverage players, but he expected to see more defences, different defences. As coaches, we’ll devise strategies for him.”
Lawrence was a successful thrower at Clemson, connecting with Tee Higgins (6-4) 118 times for 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns over two seasons. Higgins caught three passes for 81 yards (27 yards per catch) and one touchdown as Clemson defeated Alabama in the 2019 College Football Playoff national championship game.
The addition of Thomas will benefit other team members, including slot receiver Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram. With Thomas and free agent signee Gabe Davis (16.7 yards per catch in four years) stretching the field on the outside, Kirk and Engram will have more room to work the middle of the field.
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Kirk has an average of 13.2 yards per catch, while Engram has an average of 9.2 yards per catch in two seasons with Jacksonville. Defences will use deeper safeties to cover the deep ball threat, so Kirk and Engram should be able to take advantage of matchups against nickel corners and linebackers.
“That’s the hope, that’s the goal, and that’s what we’re going to work towards,” he said. “That’s something we’ve discussed in here over the last few days, what these skill positions can do. It opens up the second level, or intermediate zones, in your passing game. Evan can get a lot of targets in there, as can Christian.
“Gabe can stretch the pitch a little bit, Brian now can stretch the pitch, obviously, and we’ll see once we get everybody in there and all the pieces together just how this thing unfolds.”
Thomas is more concerned with how those players can assist him than with how he can free them up to make plays.
“It’s a stacked room,” he said. “I just want to get in there, get to work, learn from the guys, and do my best. Going in, working hard, doing what I do best, just going up there, putting in the effort, and seeing where it takes me.”
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