Tag: Brian Thomas Jr.

Watch: Brian Thomas Jr. goes deep at Jaguars training camp

Watch: Brian Thomas Jr. goes deep at Jaguars training camp

One of, if not the biggest play on the eighth day of Jacksonville’s training camp came from rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

His deepest score in training camp team drills yet, Thomas beat rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones down the right sideline and caught a pass in stride from quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the seven-on-seven portion of Friday’s practice.

John Shipley of Jaguars on SI reported the pitch-and-catch went for 40-to-45 yards.

The Jaguars caught the big play on camera and shared the highlight on social media. You can watch the clip below (click here if the embedded video does not play).

After a quiet first few days in his debut Jaguars training camp, Thomas has produced a fair share of scoring plays over the last four practices.

Thomas notably hauled in a deep on-on-one touchdown against cornerback Ronald Darby on Day 5, and a seven-on-seven touchdown against Jones and an 11-on-11 screen touchdown on Day 6, all three thrown by Lawrence.

“I think we’ve seen from the day he got here, he’s gotten better every single day. And that’s all we’re looking forward to,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said about Taylor on Wednesday. “I mean, we don’t need him ready to play Week 1 today. We need him ready to play Week 1 in Week 1.

“So, we just want to continue to see little bits of growth every single day with him with his understanding, with the way he plays, the physicality he’s seeing from our DB groups. He’s getting challenged. He’s getting challenged physically. He’s getting challenged mentally. So far, every day he’s gotten a little bit better.”

Jacksonville took Thomas with the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, after a trade down from No. 17 with Minnesota.

In three seasons with LSU in college, Thomas caught 127 passes for 1,897 yards and 24 touchdowns, peaking with 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 scores in 2023.

B/R predicts Jaguars UDFA WR ‘could thrive’ as a rookie

B/R predicts Jaguars UDFA WR ‘could thrive’ as a rookie

All eyes are on wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.’s imminent impact on Jacksonville’s passing offense. Rightfully so, considering his status as a first-round pick.

But could another rookie pass-catcher emerge for the Jaguars in 2024?

Bleacher Report analyst Derrik Klassen believes it’s possible. He highlighted Jaguars’ undrafted free agent wide receiver Joshua Cephus as one of seven Day 3 NFL draft picks and undrafted rookies “who could thrive” this season on Thursday. 

While Thomas, free agent signee Gabe Davis and two-year Jaguars slot Christian Kirk are locked into starting roles, Klassen wrote that Cephus could compete for the top depth role at outside receiver.

Jaguars 2024 positional outlook: Wide receiver

Joshua Cephus isn’t cracking the Jaguars’ starting lineup. There’s no world where Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk aren’t the top snap-getters in this offense.

The fourth wide receiver spot is entirely up for grabs, though. Aside from his fellow undrafted free agent rookies, Cephus’ only real competition for the job is Parker Washington, Tim Jones and Devin Duvernay.

However, Washington is exclusively a slot receiver whereas Cephus is more of an outside guy. Maybe those two aren’t really competing to begin with.

That leaves Duvernay and Jones. Duvernay, a former Raven, is little more than a glorified gadget player and return specialist. Jones fits more into the outside receiver role Cephus is vying for but has never proven himself as someone worth real snaps. Jones did earn 18 targets a year ago but only because the Jaguars’ receivers were dropping like flies for a portion of the year.

Cephus signed with the Jaguars following an uber-productive college career at the University of Texas-San Antonio, where he caught 313 passes for 3,639 yards and 28 touchdowns in five seasons. He’s the program’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.

Jacksonville signed Duvernay to a two-year contract via free agency in March, and Jones returns after spending the last two seasons as a key special teams contributor for the Jaguars.

Assuming Jacksonville carries seven wide receivers into the season and each player makes the 53-man roster, Klassen outlined why Cephus could be equipped to surpass Duvernay and Jones on the depth chart.

While Cephus himself is no world-beater, he has two key skills that should put him above these other roster filler types.

First, Cephus has a knack for finding the ball in the air. Nobody is going to mistake him for Mike Evans but he’s tough and sure-handed for a 6’2″, [193]-pounder. Cephus shows a clear comfort in tracking the ball no matter where it is relative to his frame and bringing in the pass with soft hands.

Cephus is also pretty explosive. UTSA regularly tapped him in for screens and other cheap YAC opportunities. He’s not a creative or elusive ball-carrier, per se, but he has that instant burst to find 10 yards when it only looked like there were five yards available.

Cephus will need work as a route-runner to reach his maximum potential. He’s quite raw in that regard right now, which is hardly surprising coming from a program like UTSA. Cephus’ ball skills and explosive athleticism should earn him opportunities, though.

Cephus is far from the Jaguars’ only wide receiver who will battle for a roster spot in training camp and the preseason.

He will compete against fellow undrafted rookies Brevin Easton and Joseph Scates; free agent depth signings Denzel Mims and Austin Trammell; and 2023 Jacksonville receivers Elijah Cooks, who caught three passes and was inactive for eight games as an undrafted rookie, and Seth Williams, who spent the year on the practice squad.

Adam Rank’s ‘hottest’ Jaguars 2024 fantasy football take

Adam Rank’s ‘hottest’ Jaguars 2024 fantasy football take

NFL Media’s Adam Rank offers an interesting twist in his previews of every team in the league before the 2024 season, sharing his “hottest” fantasy football take for each squad.

When it comes to the Jaguars, he wants fantasy football players to remember the name Brian Thomas Jr.

Rank wrote in his “State of the Jaguars” assessment Friday that their first-round rookie receiver, Thomas, could be in for a big debut season considering the big-play potential he brings to Jacksonville’s offense.

Beware of overlooking Brian Thomas Jr. 

I don’t know where you rank the LSU receiver, but I’d guess you’re way too low. I thought he should have gone much higher in April’s draft than he did (23rd overall), but I do think he found a really good landing spot with the Jaguars. Even if he has to fight Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis and Evan Engram for targets, Thomas has big-play potential, given that he led the FBS with 12 deep receiving touchdowns (those of 20-plus air yards) in 2023. He might be better suited for best-ball leagues, but I’m taking him this year.

Thomas exploded during his junior season with LSU, leading to his Day 1 draft selection by Jacksonville following its six-spot trade down from No. 17 with Minnesota. He caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards (17.3 yards per reception) and an FBS-leading 17 touchdowns in his final campaign with the Tigers.

The Jaguars coveted Thomas as a long-term replacement for Calvin Ridley, who led the team with 1,016 receiving yards in his lone season with Jacksonville last year, following his 2022 trade from Atlanta. He signed a four-year, $92 million contract with Tennessee in March.

Jaguars’ WR Brian Thomas Jr., impressing QB Trevor Lawrence, ‘can fly’

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Thomas’ speed, overall skill set and intelligence have quickly stood out to his new teammates and coaches.

“Brian is what we expected. He is long, fast and smart. So, those things have shown up early on of getting him involved,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said about Thomas on May 28.

Taylor credited Kirk, Davis — a March free agent signee of Jacksonville’s, formerly with Buffalo — and Jaguars wide receivers coach Chad Hall for helping Thomas quickly become acclimated during offseason workouts.

“He spent a lot of the meeting time with Chad and being around Christian, Gabe, who [doesn’t] necessarily knows our system, but knows the NFL and what things are going to look like. I think it’s been really good for him.

“You see obviously the intelligence in the quick twitch, in the long speed show up throughout our practices as we go through things, or even routes on air. He grows every single day. He is a guy that’s very easy to communicate with because he’s intelligent. Football comes naturally to him. Learning, picturing concepts, understanding routes, how we’re attacking certain coverages. So, you see his growth every day, which is fun to see.”

Per Fantasy Pros, Thomas’ current consensus fantasy football average draft position is No. 118 overall. He’s the consensus No. 45-ranked PPR wide receiver.

Fantasy football outlook: Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers

A reworked receiving corps has the Jaguars with questions abound.

The Jacksonville Jaguars‘ receiver room is undergoing significant change. Calvin Ridley had a strong fantasy season as the big dog in the yard (76-1,016-8) but left in free agency. In response, the Jags signed Gabe Davis in free agency and used a first-round draft pick on Brian Thomas Jr., who both bring deep speed to the roster.

Incumbent Christian Kirk is returning from injury and return specialist Devin Duvernay likely holds down a roster spot due to his availability on two of three units.

The Jaguars paid Trevor Lawrence franchise player money without franchise production to date. It’s time for Lawrence to make the jump to stardom, and it will take these guys to get him there.

Jaguars rookie projections: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Jaguars rookie projections: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

The Jaguars exited the 2024 NFL draft with nine new contributors, bolstering their roster with potential after signing eight free agents between March and April in their offseason-long effort to reclaim postseason status this year.

How impactful might Jacksonville’s rookie class be as the team chases a playoff spot?

Jaguars Wire is projecting roles and rookie production for each of Jacksonville’s 2024 draft picks, launching this series with a look at the Jaguars’ first-round, No. 23 overall selection, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Brian Thomas Jr.’s projected role with the Jaguars

Thomas’ acquisition was one of three significant additions to Jacksonville’s wide receiver room this offseason, paired with the signings of veterans Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay in free agency.

One for one: Thomas is viewed as the heir apparent to Calvin Ridley, who left Jacksonville to sign a massive contract with Tennessee in free agency; Davis will replace Zay Jones, a 2023 starter who the Jaguars released in April; Duvernay will supplant Jamal Agnew, whose contract expired in March, among the team’s receiver depth and as its primary return specialist.

The Jaguars return tight end Evan Engram, whose 114 receptions last year were the second-most in a single season in franchise history, and slot receiver Christian Kirk to the pass-catching lineup, too. Kirk’s 787 receiving yards led Jacksonville before his season-ending groin injury in Week 13.

While Ridley’s role was sizeable — he led the Jaguars with 1,016 receiving yards last season — and expectations are high for the first-round prospect, Thomas won’t necessarily face pressure to perform like an established No. 1 wide receiver during his rookie year considering the talent surrounding him in Jacksonville’s passing game.

Instead, he should have some time to acclimate to the speed of the NFL without being relied upon as a make-or-break function of the Jaguars’ offense.

Thomas is projected to start at outside wide receiver opposite Davis, with Kirk in the slot and Engram moving around the formation as a versatile tight end. Duvernay and second-year receiver Parker Washington are likely to crack the rotation in different receiver sets.

The Jaguars could deploy Thomas from the slot to create mismatches against linebackers and some safeties with his physical and athletic profile in mind, too. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound wideout clocked a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and jumped 38.5 inches vertically at the NFL combine.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson talks with wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during an organized team activity Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

Regardless of where he lines up, the Jaguars coveted Thomas for his speed and explosiveness. They believe the attention he’ll demand from opposing defenses will create openings and opportunities for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the team’s entire passing attack, not to mention his own when he breaks free from coverage.

“I think the number one thing you see is the speed on [Thomas’] film. You see the ability to get behind secondary and the second and third-level defenders. That’s big in our league,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said in April. “A lot of teams try to keep that at bay, they try not to get receivers behind you. But, it’s our job as coaches to make sure that we create opportunities to do that and utilize that speed.

“What that does then, is open up the second-level area. That’s where those 12 to 15 to 20 to 25-yard ranges are really important. That’s where you can spend a lot of time and make a lot of catches in those areas with what we saw on tape with Brian, being able to separate at the top of the route and use that athleticism and use his strength and his size to create some openness there in that second level.”

Brian Thomas Jr.’s projected rookie stats

Projection via Jaguars Wire 

  • 60 receptions
  • 825 yards
  • 13.8 yards per reception
  • Six touchdowns

60 receptions would have ranked No. 8 among rookie wide receivers in 2023, 825 yards would have ranked No. 5, and six touchdowns would have been tied for No. 5, per StatHead.

2024 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Receivers

Cardinals and Bears looking at a sweet schedule for the receivers

The strength of schedule for receivers lumps wide receivers and tight ends together since each team uses the positions differently. While overall averages are interesting, no position is as sensitive to individual matchups as are receivers facing particular defensive backs. This makes the analysis less accurate than that for running backs and quarterbacks. The best receiver for an offense invariably draws the best coverage defender, if not more than one on most plays.

The analysis also considers the venue. There is a difference between how defenses respond either home or away, and that creates 64 “different defensive matchups” depending on where the game is played.

SEE ALSO: Quarterbacks | Running Backs

The average passing fantasy points allowed by defenses for receivers last year is at the bottom of this page.

Total Points

For fantasy contests and some leagues, only total points matter. Below are the total points for each passing offense according to their schedule using the averages allowed by those defenses in 2023 .

PHI CHI DET ARI GB ATL SF NYJ IND CLE HOU
781 774 768 766 754 746 745 745 743 733 731
CAR DAL LV NO WAS BUF BAL SEA NE MIN
728 726 724 723 723 719 718 717 716 713
TEN KC NYG TB PIT CIN LAR DEN MIA LAC JAC
711 707 703 701 700 698 697 693 690 689 687

 

Weekly Play

Three different views are below. Week 1 to 17 is the full-season fantasy strength of schedule. “The Dorey Rule” says to draft like the season only lasted the first six weeks for a hot start. Finally, Weeks 15 to 17 represent the most common fantasy playoffs. “Good” games were when they faced one of the top 22 venues from last year; “Bad” was when they played in one of the worst 22.

Wk 1-17 SOS Good Bad First 6 Gms SOS Good Bad Playoffs SOS Good Bad
CHI 5 8 3 HOU 3 4 1 CHI 3 3 0
ARI 5 8 3 NYJ 3 3 0 SF 3 3 0
DET 4 7 3 SEA 3 4 1 CIN 2 2 0
GB 3 6 3 ARI 2 3 1 CLE 2 2 0
SF 3 6 3 TB 2 4 2 TEN 2 2 0
NYJ 3 6 3 IND 2 2 0 ATL 1 2 1
BUF 2 5 3 CHI 2 3 1 LAC 1 2 1
NE 2 7 5 NE 2 3 1 GB 1 1 0
IND 1 5 4 DET 2 3 1 NO 1 1 0
BAL 1 5 4 WAS 1 2 1 MIN 0 1 1
ATL 0 6 6 GB 0 2 2 LV 0 1 1
CLE 0 6 6 SF 0 1 1 WAS 0 1 1
HOU 0 6 6 DEN 0 1 1 JAC 0 1 1
DAL 0 6 6 BAL 0 2 2 NE 0 1 1
TEN 0 6 6 BUF 0 2 2 DEN 0 1 1
CAR -1 5 6 MIA 0 1 1 NYJ 0 1 1
LV -1 4 5 PHI -1 1 2 BUF 0 1 1
NO -1 5 6 CLE -1 2 3 PHI -1 1 2
SEA -1 5 6 CAR -1 2 3 KC -1 0 1
PHI -2 5 7 ATL -1 1 2 BAL -1 0 1
WAS -2 4 6 NYG -1 2 3 ARI -1 0 1
MIN -2 3 5 KC -1 1 2 DAL -1 1 2
MIA -2 2 4 LAR -1 1 2 DET -1 0 1
KC -3 4 7 PIT -2 2 4 LAR -1 0 1
NYG -3 5 8 NO -2 2 4 CAR -1 0 1
CIN -3 4 7 DAL -2 1 3 HOU -1 1 2
LAR -3 3 6 JAC -2 1 3 MIA -1 0 1
TB -4 4 8 LAC -2 0 2 IND -2 0 2
PIT -4 5 9 MIN -2 0 2 TB -2 0 2
LAC -4 3 7 LV -3 0 3 PIT -2 0 2
JAC -4 4 8 CIN -3 1 4 NYG -3 0 3
DEN -5 2 7 TEN -3 1 4 SEA -3 0 3

Best schedule strength

DJ Moore/Keenan Allen (CHI) – The Bears feature the top quarterback from the 2024 draft and that throws risk into the equation even for an elite talent. DJ Moore was new last year and succeeded but now has the young quarterback and will share with Keenan Allen. Caleb Williams still needs to prove his talent, but he has two competent receivers enjoying the lightest schedule strength in the NFL.

Marvin Harrison Jr./Trey McBride (ARI) – The Arizona receivers also face the same best-case schedule for 2024, but unlike the Bears, their quarterback is the veteran, and the wideout is the top-drafted in his position this year. Trey McBride was a breakout second-year tight end who returns to the same quarterback, coaches and scheme. Marvin Harrison Jr. is in a very advantageous position with marginal competition from the other Cardinal wideouts and also faces the softest schedule.

Amon-Ra St. Brown/Sam LaPorta (DET) – This is an interesting development. The Lions return the same scheme and players including Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was No. 2 in receptions last year (119) and Sam LaPorta who was the top fantasy tight end despite being a rookie. Now, all that greatness from 2024 is pitted against the third-best schedule strength. The only marginal downside is that there are no light matchups left after Week 13.

Garrett Wilson/Mike Williams (NYJ) – Can it finally be the Jets’ year? Garrett Wilson shined regardless of the otherwise mediocrity at quarterback last season. He gets, assumedly, a healthy Aaron Rodgers and a lighter schedule to boost his 2024 potential. Mike Williams has to learn a new offense and return from his ACL tear but at least face a lighter slate of defensive venues. The rookie Malachi Corley could also figure in if Williams is slow to return to form.

Worst schedule strength

Courtland Sutton/Josh Reynolds (DEN) – As if the coin flip between Bo Nix and Zach Wilson wasn’t scary enough, the Broncos are looking at the cruelest schedule for receivers with just two light matchups. They have a stretch during the season where eight games contain six bad venues and no good ones.

Christian Kirk/Brian Thomas (JAC) – The Jaguars lost Calvin Ridley but replaced him with Brian Thomas Jr., which should be a wash, if only eventually. The only saving grace to their rough outlook with eight poor matchups is that they had one of the worst schedules last year, and 2024 may be bad, but it is slightly better than 2023.

Joshua Palmer/Quentin Johnston (LAC) – It was already scary enough losing Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. And bringing in a far more conservative offensive scheme that seeks to run more and pass less. But the Chargers have one of the weakest pair of starters going against one of the worst schedule strengths which include only three lighter matchups all year.

George Pickens/Van Jefferson/Roman Wilson (PIT) – The Steelers imported the Falcons offense when they hired OC Arthur Smith who is fresh from the crash-and-burn of the Atlanta passing game the last couple of seasons. Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields learn that new run-heavy scheme with sketchy receivers outside of George Pickens and face an NFL-worst nine games facing the toughest venues.

2024 weekly grid 

Fantasy points allowed per game to WRs

These are the values applied to this year’s schedule to determine strength of schedule for wide receivers and tight ends.

@PHI @MIN NYG DET CHI TB LAC DEN @WAS WAS JAC PHI @CIN LAR SEA @TEN
62.2 58.6 57.3 56.6 56.2 55.9 55.2 54.1 53.9 53.2 52.1 51.6 51.5 51.5 50.6 49.9
@DET @IND @MIA CIN MIA KC @SF @LAR ATL CLE @HOU @TB TEN @GB LVR HOU
49.8 49.4 48.7 47.8 47.8 47.7 47.7 47.0 46.9 46.6 46.2 45.9 45.9 45.4 45.3 45.1
PIT @LAC @JAC BUF NE @PIT @ARI @SEA SF NO ARI @DAL MIN @DEN BAL GB
45.0 44.9 44.8 44.8 44.5 44.4 44.3 44.1 43.8 43.8 43.4 43.0 43.0 42.5 42.3 41.9
@LVR @NO @BAL @NYG IND @NE @ATL CAR @CAR @BUF DAL @NYJ @CHI NYJ @KC @CLE
41.7 41.4 41.2 40.5 39.9 39.5 38.8 38.4 36.8 36.7 35.5 34.6 34.3 32.9 30.2 29.2

 

Brian Thomas Jr. inks rookie contract with Jaguars

Brian Thomas Jr. inks rookie contract with Jaguars

Jacksonville’s first-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., signed his rookie contract with the Jaguars on Friday, the team announced.

Jacksonville traded back six spots in the first round before securing Thomas, exchanging No. 17 overall with Minnesota for No. 23 and netting pick No. 167 in the fifth round, as well as third and fourth-rounders in 2025.

The Jaguars took running back/return specialist Keilan Robinson with the Vikings’ fifth-rounder.

Thomas, from Walker, La., just outside Baton Rouge, signed with LSU in the class of 2021. He was considered a consensus top-100 high school prospect in the country at the time.

Following two seasons of rotational and some starting contributions with the Tigers, Thomas exploded in 2023, hauling in 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in 13 games, on the receiving end of passes from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, who Washington took with the second overall pick in the draft.

Thomas earned Third-Team All-American (Associated Press), Second-Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches) and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist recognition for his play as a junior.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Thomas finished his LSU career with 127 receptions for 1,897 yards (14.9 yards per reception) and 24 touchdowns. He went on to post a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and 38.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL combine.

Through rookie minicamp and offseason team activities (OTAs) in Jacksonville, Thomas thus far has lived up to his first-round billing and the Jaguars’ scouting report of his skill set, per his coaches and teammates.

“Brian has done a great job. Brian is what we expected. He is long, fast and smart. So those things have shown up early on of getting him involved,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said about Thomas during offseason team activities in May. 

“You see obviously the intelligence in the quick twitch, in the long speed show up throughout our practices as we go through things, or even routes on air. He grows every single day. He is a guy that’s very easy to communicate with because he’s intelligent. Football comes naturally to him.”

Thomas was not the only addition to Jacksonville’s wide receiver room as the club revamped the position this offseason, joined alongside veteran free agent signings, Gabe Davis from Buffalo and Devin Duvernay from Baltimore.

The club also signed five undrafted free agent wide receivers after the draft. Two, Wayne Ruby Jr. and David White Jr., have since been placed on Jacksonville’s injured reserve.

Calvin Ridley, who led Jacksonville in receiving yards with 1,016 last season, signed a four-year contract with Tennessee in free agency this past March. The Jaguars released former starting receiver Zay Jones and allowed kick returner/backup receiver Jamal Agnew to hit free agency, too.

With Thomas signed, Jacksonville’s 2024 draft class is now fully under contract.

Jaguars’ WR Brian Thomas Jr., impressing QB Trevor Lawrence, ‘can fly’

Jaguars’ WR Brian Thomas Jr., impressing QB Trevor Lawrence, ‘can fly’

As he’s begun developing chemistry with his newest pass-catcher, something has stood out to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence about wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and quickly.

“He’s really smart,” Lawrence told reporters on Monday.

The heir apparent to Calvin Ridley, who led the team in receiving yardage last season, Thomas is quickly adjusting to his new team and scheme after his first-round selection by Jacksonville in April.

“I think that’s the one thing I’m most impressed with is he’s picking up the offense super fast. He’s a quiet guy, so we’re still getting him to ask questions and stuff. But he doesn’t ask any questions, he always knows what to do,” Lawrence said of Thomas.

“I’ve been impressed. It’s tough for a rookie. I was there obviously at one point and I was swimming a little bit, and to see him come out here and pick everything up and really not skip a beat has been impressive. The more comfortable he gets in the system and knows what to do, he’s just going to get better and better.”

The Jaguars are banking on it.

They appeared poised to re-sign Ridley, who accumulated 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns in his one season with Jacksonville, at the start of the new league year in March.

But AFC South rival Tennessee snuck in and inked Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal via free agency instead, throwing a wrench in the Jaguars plans.

Accordingly, Jacksonville picked Thomas after trading down to No. 23 overall in the NFL draft’s first round.

Thomas unlocked first-round status following his explosive junior season at LSU when he scored 17 touchdowns over 68 receptions and 1,177 yards. Before that, he caught 59 passes for 720 yards and seven scores over two seasons in rotational roles.

Now, he’s tasked with offering a new element to the Jaguars’ offense, presenting a big-bodied and athletic vertical threat to supplant Ridley at outside wide receiver.

His transition has been successful thus far amid Jacksonville’s offseason team activities and as the team prepares for mandatory minicamp next week. Lawrence believes his passer-and-pass-catcher connection with Thomas is already beginning to blossom.

“I think our chemistry is growing every day,” Lawrence stated.

“I’m starting to get a feel for how he likes to run routes. I’m starting to communicate more on how I want things to look and the thoughts that I have based on certain coverages or techniques on the defense. I think he’s doing a good job of just soaking everything up and that’s what this time’s about, is learning as much as you can.”

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Thomas clocked a blazing 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine earlier this year. Lawrence suggested that level of speed has been apparent when Thomas steps onto the Jaguars’ practice field.

“Obviously just talented,” Lawrence described Thomas. “[He] can fly.”

PFF names deep passing game as Jaguars’ biggest strength

PFF names deep passing game as Jaguars’ biggest strength

While Calvin Ridley’s free-agent signing with the Titans left the Jaguars without their leading receiver from 2023 moving forward, their passing attack remains a focal point entering its 2024 campaign, arguably the team’s biggest strength.

Pro Football Focus made that argument in an analysis of every NFL team’s strengths, weaknesses and approach to retooling their rosters this year, praising the Jaguars’ deep passing offense as it appears on paper at this point in this offseason.

Despite Ridley’s exit, PFF commended Jacksonville for its selection of Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft and the signing of Gabe Davis in free agency to recuperate.

Biggest strength in 2023: Deep Passing Game

Despite losing Calvin Ridley to the division-rival Titans, the Jaguars still have a plethora of receivers who can make big plays downfield. First-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. was among the best deep receivers in college football last season, ranking in the top 10 in this year’s draft class in receptions, yards and receiving grade on balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield. The team also signed free agent Gabe Davis, whose 93.5 receiving grade on deep balls tied Tank Dell for 12th best in the NFL. Getting the ball to those deep threats will be Trevor Lawrence, whose 96.6 deep passing grade in 2023 ranked fifth among quarterbacks with at least 10 such attempts.

Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor mentioned Tuesday that the explosive passing game has been emphasized throughout the offseason as the coaching staff has assessed and adjusted its playbook and personnel.

Thomas and Davis’ additions to a receiving corps that already includes productive slot Christian Kirk and Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram were critical aspects of the team’s approach.

“We feel like we have people that we’re able to push the ball down the field,” Taylor said. “Just got to get the opportunity and call those types of plays throughout the course of games.”

PFF called Jacksonville’s pass rush its biggest weakness entering the 2024 season, naming edge rusher and former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker as the team’s “X-factor” player as a result.

Doug Pederson shares early impressions, plan for Jaguars’ Brian Thomas

Doug Pederson shares early impressions, plan for Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Brian Thomas Jr. has been through only three organized workouts with the Jaguars, two rookie minicamp practices and Jacksonville’s first offseason training activity (OTA) on Monday, but things appear to be trending in the right direction for the Jaguars’ first-round wide receiver already.

Before Thomas took the field with veterans for the first time, head coach Doug Pederson shared his impressions of the Jaguars’ No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft from his first few weeks around the team, recounting what he had displayed in the classroom and briefly on the gridiron since rookie minicamp began.

“He looked good. Really a smart guy, the things that we’ve introduced to him well he’s picked up well,” Pederson described Thomas. “He’s been able to retain it, recall it and it looks smooth on the field.”

Indeed, Thomas stood out in front of reporters at the Miller Electric Center on Monday, displaying good athleticism and strong hands while running routes on air and in one-on-ones against defensive backs.

There remains plenty of work for Thomas to do, of course. To start, the extent to which he’s practiced in equipment with the Jaguars was when he wore a helmet on Monday. The rest will be put on in training camp, over two months from now.

Pederson noted that Thomas is set to be instructed about schematics and coverages NFL defenses deploy that he might not have witnessed or been able to appreciate at the college level, emphasizing the importance of OTAs relative to players absorbing pro concepts.

“We’re still teaching, learning and developing,” Pederson said broadly before addressing Thomas’ specific development track.

“We’re going to continue to work and there’s some things we’ve got to work with that he didn’t see in college defensively, that he’s going to see here in the NFL. So we’ll continue to work with him on that.”

Another important aspect of Thomas’ offseason work will be developing chemistry with his quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. The same idea applies to fellow recent additions to Jacksonville’s wide receiver room, veterans Devin Duvernay and Gabe Davis.

Like Thomas, Davis had been unable to work in an organized fashion with Lawrence since his March signing with the team, as he continues to recover from a knee sprain suffered at the end of the 2023 season with Buffalo. Davis was also absent Monday following the birth of his child over the weekend.

“Again, just the amount of time he and Trevor have [been] throwing. I think Gabe is in that same boat,” Pederson said. “They’ve all got to get on the same page.”