Jaguars’ best rookie sleeper to make impact in 2024 NFL season

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a team on a mission in 2024. The team barely missed the NFL playoffs last season, after stumbling down the stretch due to some ill-timed injuries and mistakes. The Jaguars made some draft selections that will help them get back to the postseason this year, but one in particular is someone to watch out for.

Jaguars’s best rookie sleeper in 2024

Jacksonville needs receivers, after the team parted ways with Zay Jones this offseason. The Jaguars also lost Calvin Ridley during the spring, who signed with rival Tennessee. Christian Kirk is coming off an injury, but wants to lead the receiving corps. The Jaguars needed help in the receiver room and they drafted a player that will give them that help.

Jacksonville has a sleeper in wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Usually, a first round pick is not a sleeper. In this case, however, he is, as Thomas was selected after several other high-profile wideouts in the 2024 league draft, including Marvin Harrison Jr. Thomas was the 23rd overall pick, and was the fourth receiver taken in the draft.

Interestingly, Thomas was the second LSU football wide receiver taken in the first round. He wasn’t even considered the best receiver for the Tigers. That makes him someone to watch out for, as Thomas enters north Florida with something to prove.

With the depleted roster at receiver, Thomas will get an opportunity right away to earn snaps. The team needs him to produce, and they will almost certainly give him plenty of targets this spring. The Jaguars already have a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who has proved he can throw it around as needed. Lawrence also has something to prove, after injuring his shoulder at the end of last season and losing some key games. He wants to win and he has a weapon that can help him get some wins.

At LSU, Thomas posted some excellent numbers. He finished his final college season in 2023 with 1,177 receiving yards, a career best. He also caught 17 touchdowns, putting up some video game numbers for the Tigers. He averaged 17 yards per reception, and had a career-high in receptions with 68. His electrifying performances helped LSU finish the season with 10 victories in the always difficult SEC. He finished his college career with 1,897 receiving yards, and 24 touchdowns.

The Jaguars worked this offseason to help out Lawrence. Along with Thomas, Jacksonville also brought in Gabe Davis from the Buffalo Bills. Davis is most likely target one, but Thomas can set himself apart this spring as target two. Christian Kirk will also surely be right in the mix, so Thomas will have good competition to push him.

Jaguars 2024 outlook