Rising Jacksonville Jaguars rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs

Since gracing the practice field, Pancol has been nothing but impressive. The ankle injuries appear to be a thing of the past, as he has been nothing but quick and explosive. Pancol ran an unofficial 4.33-second 40-yard dash at Duke’s Pro Day workouts, according to the Draft Network. So far, his speed has been as advertised at the Jaguars’ OTAs.

Pancol has proven to be more than speed, making eye-opening plays each day. Without pads, the physicality of his slight frame has yet to be tested, but he continues to be “athletic” and “impressive” in OTAs, according to Sports Illustrated’s John Shipley.

“If there is one thing that has been clear about the Jaguars’ rookie class thus far, it is that rookie wide receiver Eli Pancol is a playmaker,” Shipley wrote. “He has to prove that it can carry over from padless practices, but he has made a handful of plays in each practice that have impressed, and Thursday was no different. Pancol made one of the best plays of the day with an athletic catch on the left sideline, and he has also had several big gains over the middle of the field. It is very, very early, but it feels safe to say his stock is pointing up right now.”

For undrafted free agents, OTAs are merely the first step. Making the final roster is a long and arduous climb that often ends in disappointment. Yet, Pancol has all the early signs of a hidden gem. If there is a time and place for an offensive rookie like him to break through, it is with Coen and the Jaguars in 2025.

Jaguars lack WR depth behind star duo

With Travis Hunter joining the Jaguars, no one thought to give any other rookie receiver another look in the 2025 offseason. That does not seem to matter to Eli Pancol, who is forcing people to face his direction. After hiring Liam Coen as their next head coach, Jacksonville is clearly committed to its offense in 2025, and Pancol is slowly convincing the team that he needs to be a part of it.

Hunter is the new prized rookie of the room, but the Jaguars already had their key offensive pieces in place. Coen’s hiring was meant to get the most out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who prepares for his fifth season in the league. Thomas proved himself as an elite wideout in his rookie season, one worthy of building an offense around. The team expects Hunter to complement him, but it might have found an even more valuable depth piece in Pancol.

Behind Thomas and Hunter, Jacksonville signed Dyami Brown as a potential third target. Parker Washington also presents himself as an option, with former undrafted free agent Austin Trammell fighting for the same job. Nothing will be decided until training camp, but Pancol is quickly inserting himself into that conversation.

By hiring Coen, the hope is for the pieces to finally fall into place in 2025. The Jaguars financially committed to Lawrence in the 2024 offseason and filled out their offensive line by signing Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari in free agency. The backfield is still a mess, but everything lines up for Jacksonville’s offense to take a significant leap. Finding a true No. 3 target would tie the pieces together. Under the new regime, Pancol is the player standing out early in the process.