Offensive coordinator Press Taylor has taken note of Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr.’s excellent actions and is expecting great things from the first-round choice.
Taylor made note of the fact that Thomas was “a lot further along” than he was at the beginning of training camp while addressing media on Wednesday. In the meanwhile, he thinks the former LSU star is quickly becoming an important member of the Jaguars due to his increasing confidence.
“This development is evident. Taylor stated, via the Jaguars, “You see a little bit more of him becoming who he knew he would be.” “He’s a long way from where he’s going to be in two weeks, let alone 18 weeks from now.”It’s understandable why Taylor is enthusiastic about the rookie’s potential contribution to the team’s offensive line.
Despite the tiny sample size, Thomas showed promise in the preseason by collecting two of three targets for 55 yards. He possesses impressive attributes as well, including the stature (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) to win contested balls and the speed to extend the field, which he demonstrated by setting the record for fastest speed (22.91 mph) at the NFL Combine this year.
Above all, he appears to be the ideal complement for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
In his last year of college, Thomas was especially good at long throws. According to Pro Football Focus, he led the NCAA in touchdowns (12), second in receiving yards (670), and third in catches (15) on targets of 20 yards or more.
Lawrence equaled Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers for the league lead with 1,048 yards, a 114.9 passer rating, and 11 touchdowns last season, finishing with the third-most 20-plus-yard passes (75) in the NFL. Among the 19 quarterbacks with 50 or more attempts, he was second in completions (34), and sixth in completion percentage (45.3).
With three receivers picked in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas might not get the same level of attention as other players. But his starting point and skills may make him as effective.
