JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars welcomed first round pick Brian Thomas Jr. Thursday with the LSU standout receiver saying it was "amazing" he was picked by the Jaguars.
The Jaguars traded down from the 17th pick with the Minnesota Vikings for their 5th round selection this year, a 2025 third and fourth round picks.
Thomas arrived with his family Thursday. He said he was "super excited" when the call came in. He plans to wear No. 80.
“It’s a great feeling, just being able to experience this with my parents and my family. It’s a great feeling just to know I’ll be here in Jacksonville in not too long. This is where I’ll be staying. It’s just an amazing feeling," Thomas said.
In 2023, Thomas was a Third Team All-American per AP, second team all-SEC, and was a 2023 Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist. The 21-year-old from Walker, Louisiana recorded 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.
Thomas has high expectations for his rookie year in a room full of wide receivers.
“My expectations are to just come in, earn the trust of the quarterback, earn the trust of my teammates and coaching staff," said Thomas, "to know when an opportunity presents itself, I’m going to go out there, give my all, go out there and make the play. I would say that’s my expectations coming in."
He was a big part of Jayden Daniels Heisman Trophy triumph in 2023.
Thomas, a multi-sport athlete, joked about yesterday being his first time on a private jet.
"It's a great feeling to know I'll be here in Jax, it's an amazing feeling," Thomas said.
Coach Doug Pederson said Thomas possessed a potent deep threat and would be expected to run several routes.
“The things we saw on tape, and when you talk to coaches and people close to Brian, you know the level of comfort there and understanding his offense. Understanding his role in that offense and being able to run just about every route in the route tree. I said last night, there’s going to be some different routes that we’re going to ask him to do and utilize his skillset that way. It’s going to take some time, it’s going to take some new learning with a new system. But I’m very confident, we’ve got rookie minicamp coming up and then the rest of the offseason program. We’re going to do everything we can to get him caught up to speed as fast as we can and get him plugged in,” Pederson said.
For receivers, the Jaguars added Gabe Davis from the Buffalo Bills and have Zay Jones, Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram as key targets for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
General Manager Trent Baalke said Thomas was the planned pick at No. 17 and the front office felt good about the needs of the teams drafting between 17-22.
"Again, as you talk to coach, we’re looking for ideal fits. He’s an ideal fit for what the coaching staff is looking for, for what we feel we need to expand offensively. All of it, and a culture fit. Like we talk about, bringing in the type of guys that fit into this locker room, fit into this community and he checked all of the boxes that way," Baalke said.
Baalke credited Thomas on what separates him from others.
“I think it’s a combination of everything. Again, when you look at Brian and where he’s been, the type of young man he is, the ability to check all the boxes as far as what we’re looking for in players," he added, "there were a lot of good football players on the board, he happens to be one of them".
On Day 2, the Jaguars hold the 48th and 96th picks. They are likely to target an offensive lineman or cornerback in the middle rounds.