Brian Thomas Jr. has compelling case for 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Drafted 23rd overall last year, Brian Thomas Jr. had an amazing rookie season. The Jacksonville Jaguars star receiver in 2024 can make more history at the NFL Honors next month.

Brian Thomas Jr. was one of six players nominated for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award, a well-deserved honor. The LSU product will be competing for the award against tight end Brock Bowers, fellow receiver Malik Nabers, running back Bucky Irving, and quarterback Jayden Daniels, with the winner to be announced on February 6. There are plenty of arguments for Thomas winning that honor this year.

Brian Thomas Jr. proved he’s a marquee NFL receiver

It’s been decades since the Jacksonville Jaguars had a marquee player to throw to until the 2024 NFL campaign. Getting Brian Thomas in the first round of last year's NFL Draft was a massive steal for the club.

Thomas was an absolute beast in his rookie campaign, finishing third in the league for receiving yards (1,282), bested only by the exceptional seasons of veterans Justin Jefferson (1,533) and Ja’Marr Chase (1,708). Thomas set franchise records for catches (87), yards, and touchdowns (10) by a rookie while finding the end zone more than any receiver in the league this season.

The incredible part was that he was initially an alternate for the Pro Bowl and will only be attending the game in Orlando because Baltimore Ravens wideout Zay Flowers withdrew due to a knee injury.

Thomas had over 200 more receiving yards than Flowers (223) and 13 more catches, while the Jags rookie didn’t have a two-time league MVP and a finalist for that award again this season, throwing him the ball.

Since 1970, only four NFL rookies have ever had at least 1,200 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and Thomas is one of them. Eight times in 2024, we saw him register 60-plus receiving yards, to go along with a touchdown grab, equaling the record in that department set by Randy Moss during his 1998 season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Brian Thomas Jr. was the best offensive rookie this season

Jayden Daniels is the leading candidate to be named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, Thomas’ regular season should earn him more votes. Unquestionably Daniels had one of the most epic rookie campaigns we’ve ever seen by an NFL quarterback.

The 2024 second-overall pick led all rookie quarterbacks in passer rating (100.1), completion percentage (69.0), rushing yards (891), and rushing touchdowns (six), so he’s deservedly on the shortlist. Overall, though, he was 16th among quarterbacks in passing yards (3,568), with fellow nominee Bo Nix above him (3,775).

Nix led all rookie pivots in completions (376), yards passing, and touchdown throws (29). Not taking anything away from those two, but they couldn’t outduel the seasoned veterans at that position, while Thomas did with many. Thomas’ numbers were better than CeeDee Lamb, George Kittle, Jerry Jeudy, Davante Adams, and Amon-Ra St. Brown to name a few. Let’s remember as well that even though Daniels is a game away from making the Super Bowl, this is a regular-season award.

You can argue why Thomas’ season was better than the one Nabers, Irving, and Bowers all had. Nabers was second in receptions (109) at his position, Bowers led all tight ends regarding catches (112) and Irving had more rushing yards than all rookie running backs (1,122). However, none of them were among the best at their positions compared to all players in the league.

Another factor that should be considered is the supporting cast that each player had. Daniels has a two-time Pro Bowl receiver at his disposal (Terry McLaurin) and a Second-team All-Pro to hand the ball off to (Austin Ekeler). The Raiders had a 1,000-yard pass-catcher this season in Jakobi Meyers (1,027) to complement Bowers, while Nix had Courtland Sutton, another Pro Bowler.

Thomas had to adjust to the rhythm and cadences of two different quarterbacks in Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones, both of whom were dismal more often than not. In addition to that Thomas didn’t have much of a supporting cast through the air. Brenton Strange was second on the Jags roster for receiving yards this season at 411.

Nabers didn’t have much help in the pass-catching department either, but his supporting cast put up better numbers than Thomas’. Darius Slayton had 573 receiving yards and Wan’Dale Robinson was second on the New York Giants with 699.

The NFL Honors are individual awards and should be treated as such. If that’s how those voting cast their ballots, then Thomas should be the first Jaguars player in NFL history to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year.