Brian Thomas
Jr.

After playing in London the week prior, Jacksonville faced the Patriots in Wembley in Week 7 in 2024. Thomas was the star playmaker in the passing game during a 32-16 victory, racking up a team-high 89 yards and a touchdown on five receptions — his third game with at least 80 yards and a score.

Thomas' stock is set to soar in 2025, as new Jaguars coach Liam Coen sees him as a fast-appreciating asset. "An offense can run through that," Coen said of Thomas' vast and diverse skill set. Considering he racked up 1,282 receiving yards and 10 scores and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2024, the time looks right to go all in.

Jacksonville fans didn't have to wait long to see Thomas turn in a breakout performance in Week 5 of 2024, the first-year receiver erupted for five catches and 122 yards, including the game's signature highlight. Midway through the second quarter, he turned a short lane into an 85-yard catch-and-run TD.

Brian had a rookie season in 2024 that was unmatched in Jaguars' history. Thomas finished the year with 87 catches, 1,282 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns, setting records in all three categories for a Jacksonville newcomer. He had three 100-yard efforts in the final four games and placed third in the league in receiving yards, earning a Pro Bowl nod.

Thomas is never satisfied. He's committed to improving every time he sets foot on the field. "I feel like there's more in the tank for me," the rising star said. "So, each and every day … I'm going to come out there and show everything that I can do, show what I can do, try to be better than I was last year."

After an offensive explosion by both sides, the Jaguars took down the Colts, 37-34, in Week 5 of 2024. Thomas helped get that high-scoring showcase started. In the second quarter, he beat his man down the right sideline, reeled in the ball, then zoomed all the way for an 85-yard score.

Thomas surprised his head coach with his versatility. \"So to be able to put him in a slot and run rookie, run choice, run the option routes, run the middle of the field a little bit, and then also be able to throw screens to him … an offense can run through that,\" Jaguars coach Liam Coen told Sports Illustrated.

Thomas proves that you don't have to be a compact slot receiver to be an absolute speedster. Even with his muscular 6-foot-3 frame, the towering rookie flies past cornerbacks on vertical routes and races around linebackers and safeties over the middle — both before and after getting the ball.

Jacksonville fans didn't have to wait long to see Thomas turn in a breakout performance. In Week 5 of 2024, the first-year receiver erupted for five catches and 122 yards, including the game's signature highlight: Midway through the second quarter, he turned a short route into a 85-yard catch-and-run TD.

As a rookie, Thomas was no ordinary rookie. His 11 games with 75-plus receiving yards were an NFL record for a debut season, and he was nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week honors eight times. The first-rounder made the NFL All-Rookie Team and headed into 2025 as the No. 61 player on the NFL Top 100.

At LSU, Thomas earned targets and maximized them. In the NFL, nothing changed. The first-round pick became the Jaguars' leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions as a rookie in 2024, earning Pro Bowl honors and a spot on the All-Rookie Team. His receiving total ranked third in the league.

Brian was among the league's most explosive receivers during his rookie season in 2024. He tied for the sixth-most receptions of 20 yards or more (12) and shared the NFL lead with five touchdowns of 50+ yards. "He's got those freakish talents, man," coach Liam Coen says. "He's got some freakish traits."

Post routes are a football classic. They produce big plays downfield, often touchdowns. Yes, Thomas is very good at them better, in fact, than any player in the NFL in 2024. Pro Football Focus gave the pass-catcher a 57.9 grade on the deep up-and-angle pattern that takes the target to goalpost.

Though less heralded than some other receivers in the 2024 draft class, selected 23rd overall to Jacksonville, Brian outproduced them all with an 87-catch, 1,282-yard, 10-touchdown rookie season to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. Thomas finished third in the league in receiving yards behind two fellow LSU stars — Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

Thomas is a Jaguar for many reasons. Fittingly, perhaps the biggest one is speed. 'The No. 1 thing you see is the speed on film,' coach Doug Pederson said of the 2024 first-round pick. 'You see the ability to get behind second- and third-level defenders. That's big in our league.'

Thomas wiggles when needed. He uses slippery moves to make men miss and keep it pushing. For the most part, however, he burns with breakaway speed to negate that need for dancing. The wideout boasts track-star pace, which he puts to good use by leaving defenders in the dust.

It didn't take long for Thomas to find himself the subject of routine double-teams. That's just how fast this fleet-footed rookie made his mark in the league. He had receiving scores in four out of five games beginning in Week 4 of 2024, including a memorable 85-yarder in a Week 5 win over the Colts.

Primed for optimism. Jacksonville fans are patient for Thomas to hit his stride in 2024. The game-changing offense will support and ability to score will improve down with his sweet spot as a time AFC contender. Wide Receiver Jacksonville Jaguars 6'1" 208 lbs. Drafted in the first round with the sixth overall pick in 2024, Thomas has the size and speed to be a game-changing receiver. He was a two-time All-American at LSU and finished his college career with 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023. Thomas ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and has the ability to stretch the field as a true deep threat.