3 draft picks the Jaguars got right and 2 moves they will regret

Draft pick the Jaguars got right: Brian Thomas Jr., WR

There are many things to like about the Brian Thomas Jr. pick. For starters, the Jaguars found a potential replacement for Calvin Ridley and didn't have to invest considerable resources to do so. The team's brass could've paid a fortune to move into the top 10 and acquire one of the top three receivers in the draft. They didn't and instead moved down, got extra selection, and landed Thomas at No. 23.

While Thomas wasn't in the same echelon as Marvin Harrison Jr. or former teammate Malik Nabers, he was still among the best players in the whole draft. He'll need a bit more refinement to contribute, sure. But that's true for most players making the transition from college to the pros.

One thing that will help Thomas get quickly acclimated is that he won't be under pressure to be the Jaguars' top weapon right away. With the likes of Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram in the mix, the coaching staff will have the chance to ease the rookie into action and bring him along slowly.

But even if Thomas isn't the team's top target in 2024, his skill set, particularly his ability to get deep, will help him find favorable matchups early in his career. When you take into consideration that the Jaguars will have Thomas on the cheap (around $14 million) for the next four years instead of paying Ridley $92 million during the same span, his selection looks much better.

Draft pick the Jaguars got right: Cam Little, K

Desperate situations call for desperate measures, and to at last bring stability at kicker, the Jaguars used a sixth-round selection on Cam Little. Granted, teams can always look for a kicker after the draft but they thought the Arkansas product was talented enough to warrant a late-round selection.

Little will need to compete with incumbent Riley Patterson for the kicker job but he should be the favorite. In fact, it looked like there was going to be a three-way battle before the draft but the Jags wasted no time giving Joey Slye his walking papers not long after landing Little.

Sure, Patterson was a fan favorite for kicking the game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2022 playoffs but his leg strength is less than ideal. In fact, it was the whole reason the Jags brought in Brandon McManus to replace him last year. It ultimately didn't work but instead of rolling with Patterson in 2024, the Jags drafted Little in hopes of ending their long-time struggles at kicker.