3 Winners, 3 losers from Jaguars selection of Brian Thomas Jr. in 2024 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars had clear needs but not a pressing one ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. That gave them the flexibility to take different routes in the first round. Ultimately, they chose to select LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. after making a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to move down six spots.

Thomas wasn't among the top receiver prospects of the class but he was no slouch either. He had a first-round grade, so taking him at No. 23 doesn't look like a reach. Although he didn't put up great two numbers in his first two collegiate seasons, he had a breakout year in 2023, hauling 68 receptions for 1,177 yards with 17 touchdowns. Moreover, he caught 15 receptions on 22 targets that went for 20 yards or more, and 12 of them ended in a trip to the end zone.

To summarize, the Jaguars got a deep threat that will help them put points on the scoreboard, but who'll benefit most from his arrival? Who may be affected? Here are three winners and three losers.

Jaguars Winner No. 1 Trevor Lawrence

The Jaguars had a wide array of weapons on offense but they were missing a WR1 after losing Calvin Ridley in free agency. Instead of trading for an established veteran, they took Brian Thomas Jr. with the 23rd overall selection.

In Thomas, Trevor Lawrence gets a speedster who can stretch the field and draw coverage away from his teammates. Following the conclusion of the first round, general manager Trent Baalke shared the reasoning for drafting the Louisiana native.

" He's an explosive athlete, he can help open up the field a little bit. Certainly, a younger receiver for Trevor to build around, and our offense to build around. So there were a lot of positives to the pick. A lot of time and energy went into it, so feel good about where we're at."

Building chemistry with Lawrence must be a priority for Thomas in training camp. He won't probably get lots of playing time early in his rookie season but that connection could help him earn more targets as the season progresses.

Jaguars Winner No. 2 Jaguars GM Trent Baalke

Say what you want about general manager Trent Baalke but that man knows how to navigate the first round of the draft. You can make the case that his track record in later rounds leaves much to be desired, and you would be right. But that's a conversation for another time.

Last year, the Jags had pick No. 24 but Baalke moved back twice and still ended up selecting his guy, offensive tackle Anton Harrison. Along the way, he was able to get extra draft picks. He did it again in 2024. The Jaguars were on the clock at No. 17 when it was announced that they moved down six spots in exchange for pick No. 167, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Baalke said after Day 1 of the draft that the Jaguars would've taken Brian Thomas Jr. if they had stayed at No. 17.

"He was going to be there at pick 17," Baalke told the media after Day 1 of the Draft. "Like we said, "There were other players involved and we just felt that the way the board looked and where the needs were the teams in between us, we felt we had a chance. There's risk, there's reward. You make the move back, but we felt were gonna get a really good football player that we had high on our board with the move back. [We were] fortunate that Brian was still there."

To summarize, the Jags didn't have to move up for Thomas and instead managed to get three mid-round picks. All things considered, that was a good haul, and Baalke deserves praise for it.

Jaguars Winner No. 3: HC Doug Pederson, OC Press Taylor

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor got flak for being unimaginative in his first season as the Jaguars' playcaller full-time. However, head coach Doug Pederson also deserves criticism, as he's the one who crafted the playbook.

Injuries and lack of depth ultimately prevented the Jaguars from opening the playbook last year. They took care of both issues in the offseason and the addition of Thomas should help them come up with more creative plays. Here's what Pederson had to say about the former collegiate star.

"You're adding a skilled receiver, you're adding depth. You're adding a guy that has an element of speed that we haven't had, probably, since Calvin last year. Once we get him in here, get our hands on him, get him into the playbook in a couple of weeks, we'll see how we can use him I think it can only be a great asset for us on offense. Not only to open up the field but to open up some other elements of the offense," Pederson said.

Now the losers from the Jaguars' decision to draft Brian Thomas Jr.

Loser No. 3: OL coach Phil Rauscher

Offensive tackle was a trendy pick for the Jaguars at No. 17. Had they not moved back, they could've targeted Amarius Mims or Troy Fautanu. It's true that Jacksonville has two left tackles under contract, Cam Robinson and Walker Little, but both of them are set to become free agents in 2025. Thus, it would've been a good idea to add depth at the position and give Phil Rauscher another guy to develop.

The Jaguars may very well give Rauscher someone to work with later in the draft, but it won't be one of the premier left tackle prospects.

Loser No. 2: Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen

Ryan Nielsen was hired as the team's new defensive coordinator not long after the 2023 season ended. He'll take over an underperforming group and will try to get the most out of them. To do so, he'll be making the switch to a press-heavy scheme.

While Nielsen has some pieces to work with, he still needs a few more to complete the proverbial puzzle. A cornerback who can play man coverage would be great. A third pass rusher to round out the rotation behind Travon Walker and Josh Allen could've been of help. However, he'll need to wait to get reinforcements.

Loser No. 3: Zay Jones

The Jaguars are stacked at wide receiver after drafting Brian Thomas Jr., but the team's brass could make a few changes in the upcoming days or weeks. Thomas will join a unit that includes Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones. All of them are expected to have starting roles in 2024 but there may not be enough targets for all of them. That could make Jones the victim of the numbers game.

Kirk is one of Trevor Lawrence's most trusted targets, and Davis just signed a three-year deal in free agency. Meanwhile, Jones is entering the last year of the contract he signed in 2022. He's coming off an injury-riddled season and releasing him (or trading him) would create cap space.

Maybe the Jags could keep Jones around but that could potentially hinder Thomas' development. That's why trading him and getting a late-round pick along the way on Days 2 or 3 of the draft may be the best course of action.

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