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Jaguars rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. has dazzled, but what have we learned about the class?
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- Jaguars rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. has dazzled, but what have we learned about the class?
The Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves in a state of uncertainty as they navigate a challenging 2-9 season under head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke's leadership.
While the franchise is still working to play out the final six games and winning on the mind, plenty of observers have already looked ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft .
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The Jaguars currently hold the No. 1 pick. If that stands through the end of the year, Jacksonville will become the first team in the modern draft era to select first in three of five years (2021 and 2022).
NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars hold top pick after Week 11; would be third in five years
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (1), center, holds up his new jersey next to general manager Trent Baalke, left, and head coach Doug Pederson during a press conference Friday, April 26, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Jaguars selected LSU’s wide receiver Thomas Jr. as the 23rd overall pick in last night’s NFL Draft. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
As Pederson, coaches and players assess what happened through the first 11 games during the team's Week 12 by week, the break marks a good time to take a look back at how the team's latest round of draft picks have done this season and what the future holds for the team's young core.
Who did the Jaguars draft in 2024?
The Jaguars selected nine players in the 2024 NFL Draft. They traded down in the first round from pick No. 17 to 23 to select former LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
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Here are the team's selections from the 2024 NFL Draft and their draft positions:
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Round 1: No. 23: Brian Thomas Jr. , WR, LSU
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Round 2: No. 48: Maason Smith , DT, LSU
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Round 3: No. 96: Jarrian Jones , CB, Florida State
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Round 4, No. 114: Javon Foster , OT, Missouri
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Round 4, No. 116: Jordan Jefferson , DT, LSU
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Round 5, No. 167: Keilan Robinson , RB, Texas
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Round 6, No. 212: Cam Little , K, Arkansas
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Round 7, No. 236: Myles Cole , DE, Texas Tech
Brian Thomas Jr. headlines Jaguars rookie class through 11 weeks
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) reacts to his first down pickup during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
There's no question that Thomas has been the team's best rookie this year. He's also been their best, most consistent player on offense.
Thomas made his presence felt immediately. In Week 1, he caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins . He also drew a large pass interference penalty to give Jacksonville an easy touchdown on the ensuing plays.
Since then, Thomas has become the team's leading receiver. He has 42 catches for 689 yards and five touchdowns. He broke 100 receiving yards once this year against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. He caught five passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, an 85-yard score.
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Thomas ranks first among rookie wideouts in yards and is second in touchdowns ( Marvin Harrison Jr. has six). His average yards per catch (16.4) ranks second among rookie receivers ( Keon Coleman , 19 YPC).
Thomas ranks 11th among all receivers in the NFL in receiving yards and ninth in yards per catch among receivers with at least 20 targets this year.
What Jaguars rookies have stood out besides Brian Thomas Jr.?
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) is introduced before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Thomas isn't the only Jaguars rookie that has impressed this season.
Jarrian Jones
Though he's had an up-and-down year, Jones has taken hold of the team's starting slot corner role over the last several weeks. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones has allowed 27 catches for 310 yards and zero touchdowns. But, he's added three pass breakups and an interception while splitting time as an outside reserve corner and a starting slot corner.
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Jones posted his best games of the season against the New England Patriots in Week 7 and the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. He allowed just six receptions for 48 yards, zero touchdowns and added two pass breakups and an interception.
Jones is a standout as a run defender from the slot position. He ranks second on the team with a run defense grade of 90.5, according to PFF.
Cam Little
Little is another player who could have been listed as the best rookie this year if it weren't for Thomas.
Little has made all 19 of his extra points and is 15 of 16 on field goals this year, including a franchise-record-tying 59-yard field goal made last week against the Detroit Lions . He's been one of the most consistent players on the team within the best unit on the team: special teams.
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Among kickers with at least 10 field goal attempts this year, Little ranks fifth in field-goal percentage. He's tied for fourth in field goal long this year. He's among five players to have made all of his kicks from 50 or more yards out with at least three attempts.
Jordan Jefferson
Jefferson was a healthy scratch through the first five games of the season but made his debut for Jacksonville in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears . He has quickly come onto the scene and is one of the team's key contributors.
According to PFF, Jefferson ranks sixth on the team in tackling grade (73.3) and has six "stops" this year, according to NFL Pro. "Stops" are defined as "tackles made by a defender that result in a positive play for the defense, measured by a negative change in expected points (EPA). For perspective, Jefferson has the same number of stops as Roy Robertson-Harris , who was traded away after Week 6.
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Which Jaguars rookies need to improve moving forward?
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (98) and defensive tackle Maason Smith (94) face off during drills as defensive end Tyler Lacy (93) looks on. The Jacksonville Jaguars let most of the veterans off from participating in Monday's mandatory minicamp session held in the air conditioned enclosed field at EverBank Stadium's Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. June 10, 2024. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
The Jaguars have several rookies who haven't made much of an impact this year including Smith, Foster, Robinson and Cole.
Smith, taken in the second round, has been a healthy scratch a few times this season and has missed at few games this year due to an ankle injury. He's played in just five games and has one sack, two pressures and four stops this year.
While Cole has had some snaps this year (57), he's been active for just four games. He's accounted for two stops, five tackles and no pressures thus far this season.
Foster has been active for just one game and has played one snap on special teams. His contributions will likely come in the ensuing years.
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Robinson was recently activated from the team's reserve/injured list and could make his debut next week against the Houston Texans . Robinson has been sidelined with a toe injury since training camp.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' Brian Thomas Jr. shines, rookie class review
