Recently, the Jaguars were linked to an up-the-board trade intended to acquire a receiver.
The organization has nonetheless managed to snag a high-profile talent at the position while moving in the opposite direction.
LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. was chosen by Jacksonville with the 23rd overall pick.
Three of the best wide receiver prospects in this draft were taken by No. 9 overall.Rome Odunze, Malik Nabers, and Marvin Harrison Jr. are on their way to Arizona, New York, and Chicago, respectively. The fourth wideout in this class will be picked by the Jags even though they were unable to advance into that area.
Thomas joins a Jaguars squad that has already stocked its pass-catching spots with a large number of personnel. The team has Gabe Davis at $13 million AAV, Christian Kirk on a $18 million contract, and Zay Jones in the last year of a $8 million contract.Additionally, a top-10 tight end contract is signed by Evan Engram.
The Jaguars also made a valiant effort to hold onto Calvin Ridley, the 1,000-yard wide receiver, but minutes after the 2024 league season got underway, he signed a massive contract to play for the Titans.
Although it is debatable if the Jaguars needed to select a receiver with such a high overall pick, the organization is currently negotiating a deal with Trevor Lawrence that is expected to cost at least $50 million. The Jaguars will need to start a new roster phase as Josh Allen and Lawrence rocket into new NFL tax levels.
By 2025 at the latest, Thomas should be able to take over as a starting player from one of the veterans, and the team will benefit from his rookie deal.
Despite being Nabers’ wingman at LSU the previous season, Thomas led Division I-FBS in touchdown receptions with 17. The 6-foot-3 pass catcher exploded for 1,177 yards to help Jayden Daniels win the Heisman Trophy last season, following two years in which he finished below 400 yards in Baton Rouge.
With a strong wide receiver corps in Jacksonville, Thomas will have the opportunity to continue as a complementary option, at least in the early going of his career. With the defense’s difficulties towards the end of the previous campaign, the Jags will probably need to allocate a lot of resources to it very soon.
