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Do Jacksonville Jaguars have WR problem? Why they could look for major help in NFL Draft
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- Do Jacksonville Jaguars have WR problem? Why they could look for major help in NFL Draft
Do the Jacksonville Jaguars have a receiver problem?
As the team continues to solidify its draft board and evaluate needs , there might be a glowing issue on offense ahead of the NFL Draft.
The team's receiver room is largely unproven as it stands.
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Head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone spoke with media during Jacksonville's pre-draft availability. During the press conference, the pairing fielded a wide range of questions.
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One of which directly asked about the incoming wide receiver class as the Jaguars go into the draft.
"There are some really good football players all throughout this draft at the position," Coen said. "I wouldn't say it's maybe as sparkling as some other drafts, right, where you do see there's a couple of good ones up there.
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"We feel good about some of the guys a little bit later on that can contribute for us, definitely a position we'd be looking for."
Why are the Jaguars in the market for a receiver?
The Jaguars moved on from two of their veteran pass catchers already this offseason. They traded Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans and released tight end Evan Engram earlier in the offseason.
And with Gabe Davis still recovering from an MCL injury that ended his season last year, the team will likely begin the season with only Brian Thomas Jr. as a returning starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) on the field between drills on the fifth day of the NFL football training camp practice session Monday, July 29, 2024 at EverBank Stadium's Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
Thomas was a bright spot for the Jaguars last season and rewrote the franchise record books for a first-year pass catcher. He owns the single-season rookie records for catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
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He led the Jaguars in every single receiving category: receptions, targets, yards and receiving touchdowns. And he finished third in the NFL in receiving yards.
But still, the rest of the roster is largely unproven and doesn't feature a player who's had more than 500 receiving yards in a single season.
Coen explains hope for Jaguars to share the wealth among pass catchers
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) rushes for yards during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
As the season went on, it became apparent Thomas was able to shoulder the full load of a star receiver. But Coen is hoping to offset some of that workload for Thoams with some of the other players on Jacksonville's roster.
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The team had immediate replacements for Engram and Kirk with third-year players Parker Washington and Brenton Strange . Washington and Strange both saw an increase in usage last season as Engram and Kirk both had injury bouts that sidelined them.
Both players put up career-best numbers during their second season in the NFL. Now, they'll likely see a larger share of workload as projected starters.
In addition to those two players, the Jaguars brought Dyami Brown through free agency and view him as a player with a lot of upside.
"We're going to spread the ball out hopefully equally," Coen said. "That was the nice thing about being last year with Tampa, we had to play a lot of different players in different personnel groupings."
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Due to injuries, the Buccaneers were forced to implement an offense where multiple players contributed to the passing attack.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen listens during a press conference at Miller Electric Center Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Mike Evans was the high man with 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, but he was one of seven pass catchers who had more than 300 receiving yards.
That included Tampa Bay running backs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving , who combined for 785 receiving yards last season.
Not to mention Baker Mayfield logging career statistics in passing yards and touchdowns with Coen calling the shots.
"I think you look naturally right now at Parker Washington and Dyami Brown at the receiver positions. Then saying Brenton Strange hopefully continues to ascend," Coen continued. "How do we use our two running backs to be able to supplement some of that usage.
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"Get more people involved in the game especially early on, so defenses can't just cloud BT and be all over him."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Will Jacksonville Jaguars target WR in NFL Draft? They could use help
