The Jaguars selected Louisiana State wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with the No. 23 pick of the 2024 NFL draft’s first round on Thursday night.
Jacksonville moved back from its original No. 17 slot with Minnesota, receiving the Vikings’ No. 23 and No. 167 (fifth-round) overall picks in 2024 and their third and fourth-round selections in 2025.
Thomas, from Walker (La.) High, signed with his home-state Tigers as a consensus top-100 recruit in the class of 2021 and eventually became the fourth wide receiver prospect selected in the 2024 NFL draft, just over three years later.
He followed receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona, No. 4), Malik Nabers (New York Giants, No. 6) and Rome Odunze (Chicago, No. 9) in the draft order.
The 6-foot-2 and 7/8-inch, 209-pound Thomas posted 127 receptions for 1,897 yards and 24 touchdowns over three seasons and 38 games with LSU, setting single-season career-highs with 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns over 13 games in 2023.
He led the nation in touchdown receptions in his final season of college ball, on the receiving end of passes from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and 2024 No. 2 overall selection by Washington, Jayden Daniels.
Then, at the 2024 NFL Combine, Thomas proved himself to be an elite athlete for his position. His 4.33-second 40-yard dash ranks in the 94th percentile among wide receiver prospects since 1999, per MockDraftable, and his 38.5-inch vertical jump falls into the 82nd percentile.
Thomas is the third wide receiver Jacksonville’s added to its arsenal of pass-catchers this offseason, making up for the free agency departure of Calvin Ridley to Tennessee.
Previously, Jacksonville signed former Buffalo wide receiver Gabe Davis and former Baltimore wide receiver Devin Duvernay via free agency in March.
Find Jaguars Wire’s scouting profile for Thomas here.
Jaguars’ remaining 2024 NFL draft picks
- Round 2, Pick 48
- Round 3, Pick 96 (compensatory selection)
- Round 4, Pick 114
- Round 4, Pick 116 (via New Orleans)
- Round 5, Pick 153
- Round 5, Pick 167 (via Minnesota)
- Round 6, Pick 212
- Round 7, Pick 236
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.