The Jacksonville Jaguars made some big changes with the skill position players around Trevor Lawrence this offseason. Gone is his No. 1 target from last season, Calvin Ridley.
Making his departure hurt a little more was that he signed a deal with their AFC South rivals, the Tennessee Titans. The team also moved on from Zay Jones, releasing him to save salary in a numbers crunch.
To replace them, the Jaguars made a few additions in free agency. Their splashiest signing was snagging Gabe Davis away from the Buffalo Bills. The team also landed Devin Duvernay from the Los Angeles Rams.
But, the biggest addition the Jaguars made to their wide receiver group came in the 2024 NFL Draft. With their first-round pick, No. 23 overall, they selected Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas was part of an explosive LSU offense last season. He was the No. 2 receiver for Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, behind Malik Nabers. Nabers went No. 6 in the 2024 NFL Draft to the New York Giants.
The former teammates are entering vastly different situations. Nabers is going to be the unquestioned No. 1 receiver on a rebuilding Giants team. Thomas will have to earn that spot in the pecking order for a Jaguars team looking to contend.
However, in the opinion of Josh Edwards of CBS Sports, Thomas has Nabers trumped in one area; importance to their team’s success. No one is going to argue that Nabers will help improve New York’s offense, but in Edwards’ opinion, Thomas is one of the most important rookies in the NFL this season.
In his rankings, the Jacksonville rookie came in at No. 2. Only Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams finished above him on the list.
“Wide receiver was considered a need before Calvin Ridley spurned the franchise for a division rival. Gabe Davis was signed in free agency to relieve some of the urgency to address that position in the draft.
Thomas is more dynamic than any other outlet on Jacksonville’s roster. If they are to bounce back from last year’s frustrating conclusion, then they will need Thomas to accelerate his development,” Edwards wrote.
The hit rate on first-round receivers in the NFL Draft is quite high. However, they don’t always produce right out of the gate.
Sometimes, it takes a season or two for them to find their footing. That could be the case with Thomas, but the Jaguars are certainly hoping that he can hit the ground running.
That would help offset the loss of Ridley and help take this unit to another level. With the tools to be a No. 1 receiver, Thomas’s development will be something to watch this summer.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here.
Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
