After months of anticipation, the 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone. The Jacksonville Jaguars had an eventful start after trading back to pick No. 23 with the Minnesota Vikings, then selecting LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr.Â
In a draft where many fans expected the Jags to take a defensive player first, there still was a lot of excitement surrounding the selection of Thomas. After all, adding some firepower for quarterback Trevor Lawrence is always well-received and Thursday's choice was no exemption.Â
When you pop on the tape of Thomas, it's hard not to get excited about his ability to make impact plays. In 2023, he accumulated 1,079 yards for 17 touchdowns, a football subdivision high. He also averaged 18 yards a catch, making him one of the most explosive players on the collegiate level.
Thomas' addition was important for the Jags who missed the playoffs last season. That said, we put a scouting report together on him which also explains how Thomas could impact the team. Enjoy!
How does Thomas' addition impact the Jags?
There were times when it was obvious that the Jags offense needed to become a more vertical unit last season. They clearly understood that and added Gabe Davis in free agency, but didn’t stop there as Thomas helps similarly, too.
Over time, the Jags will need Thomas to be more than a deep threat and help them in other ways. It’s an area where Calvin Ridley excelled due to his suddenness and technical skills, but Thomas needs time to match his abilities there.Â
Overall, Thomas feels like a project receiver who may take some patience, but when it all comes together, he should be special. Of course, it would be nice for him to make a significant impact in Year 1, but training camp will be important for him to get down the technical things.
Another tidbit worth mentioning for Thomas is that he could help them from different receiver roles. While his snap count in the slot wasn’t astronomical (85) in comparison to the ones out wide (642), there is some versatility to his game. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah mentioned this when we asked about the receivers class in a conference call. This is important when considering the injuries the Jags had at receiver last year, especially at Christian Kirk’s spot in the slot where Thomas was effective. Thomas' Year 1 impact could all depend on what the Jags put on his plate in 2024, but it's worth noting that he can help them in more ways than one.
If brought into the system correctly, the Jags can give defensive coordinators nightmares this season. He has a skill set that fans should be excited about although it might take some time to polish him up.Â
Brian Thomas' scouting report
Position: Wide receiver
College: LSU
Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 209 lbs.
Strengths
Dangerous deep threat thanks to speed
Tracks and adjusts to ball at a high level when it's in the air
Has proven he can produce from multiple WR spots
Has showcased a wide catch radius at times
Was a touchdown machine (had an FBS high of 17)
Weaknesses
Had some bothersome drops that may be tied to concentration
Ability to deal with physicality needs improving
Route tree was limited, which could make him a project
Ability to make defenders miss after shorter routes seems underwhelming
Route selling needs improving
Highlights of his strengths