Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 NFL draft picks: WR Brian Thomas Jr., DT Maason Smith among nine total selections
Let's take a closer look at each of the Jaguars' 2024 draft picks.
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars made nine selections at the 2024 NFL draft, starting with selecting WR Brian Thomas Jr. with the No. 23 overall pick.
Here's a look at each of Jacksonville's selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1: No. 23: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
My take: Thomas is one of the biggest (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) and fastest receivers in the draft (4.33 40-yard dash at the combine). His production in the SEC was elite in 2023: 17.3 yards per catch, 17 TD catches. He gives the Jaguars something they haven't had since Allen Robinson II (2014-17): Someone who can go up and get 50-50 balls and provide a big red-zone target. The Jaguars threw few end-zone fade routes the past several seasons, but that should change with Thomas, who had 10 TD catches on go or fade routes last season, the second-most in FBS to Rome Odunze.
Will he start as a rookie?: The Jaguars signed WR Gabe Davis to a three-year freeagent contract in March and he and Thomas will be the starters outside, with Christian Kirk in the slot and TE Evan Engram moving around the formation. The question is what this means for Zay Jones, who is in the final year of his contract and coming off a season in which he missed eight games because of knee injuries.
Key stat: Thomas had 12 touchdown catches on passes of at least 20 yards downfield last season at LSU, the most by any FBS player in a season since ESPN Stats & Information began tracking air yards in 2011.
Round 2: No. 48: Maason Smith, DT, LSU
My take: The Jaguars needed to bolster their run defense, which faded down the stretch in 2023, and get younger on the defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 306-pounder can play inside as well as at defensive end, which gives the Jaguars some versatility along the front with Roy Robertson-Harris and DaVon Hamilton. Hamilton had a disappointing season in 2023 because of a back infection and he never reached the level he did in 2022, which earned him a contract extension. The Jaguars also released NT Folorunso Fatukasi this spring after two disappointing seasons, so adding depth along the defensive front was a priority.
Key stat: Smith should be able to provide a boost to the Jaguars' interior pass rush in addition to his work as a run stuffer. Per ESPN Stats & Information, Smith had 20 QB pressures when lining up as a defensive tackle in 2023, which was second most in the SEC. In the first eight games of the season he had a 4% pressure rate but in the final four games that jumped to 11%.
Round 3: No. 96: Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State
My take: The 6-foot, 190-pound Jones lined up primarily in the slot in 2023, so that's where he'll start with the Jaguars. The Jaguars signed CB Ronald Darby in free agency to play on the outside opposite Tyson Campbell. Head coach Doug Pederson said at the owners meetings that Darnell Savage Jr., whom they also signed in March, would be playing nickel, so Jones joins the rotation there along with Antonio Johnson. Jones has good speed (he ran 4.38 in the 40 at the combine) and has played outside at FSU at times as well, but the team has confidence that Darby can be the starter.
Key stat: Per ESPN Stats & Information, Jones didn't allow a touchdown in 436 coverage snaps over the last two seasons at FSU. He allowed the 10th-lowest completion rate (33%) and seventh-lowest QBR (6.3) as a targeted defender among FBS players with at least 30 targets. Jones also is the only player in FSU history to record a tackle for a loss, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same game (vs. North Alabama).
Round 4, No. 114: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
My take: The Jaguars have only one offensive tackle under contract beyond this season (right Anton Harrison) so this was a position the Jaguars needed to address. Foster started 39 games at left tackle and two at right tackle at Missouri but he won't be asked to play in 2024 unless there are injuries to left tackle Cam Robinson and swing tackle Walker Little -- or the Jaguars decide to trade Robinson, in which case the 24-year-old Foster could become the swing tackle as a rookie.
Round 4, No. 116: Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU
My take: Jefferson is the third LSU player -- and second on defense -- the Jaguars have drafted so far. It's clear the Jaguars are mining inside linebackers coach Matt House, who spent the past two seasons as LSU's defensive coordinator. The 6-foot-4, 317-pound Jefferson -- who played three seasons at West Virginia before transferring to LSU -- showed off his upper body strength at the combine by benching 225 pounds 34 times. The Jaguars' run defense faded in the second half of the season and played a major role in a season-ending loss to Tennessee -- Derrick Henry ran for a season-high 153 yards -- and the team cut nose tackle Folorunso Fatukasi in March so an upgrade along the interior of the defensive line was a priority in the draft.
Round 5, No. 153: Deantre Prince, CB, Ole Miss
My take: The Jaguars continue to add to the secondary with Prince, who lined up almost exclusively outside in college. He had six interceptions and 21 pass breakups in four seasons for the Rebels and one interception in one season at Northeast Mississippi Community College. He worked as a gunner on punt coverage as well, and his best chance to make an impact as a rookie will likely be on special teams.
Round 5, No. 167: Keilan Robinson, RB, Texas
My take: Robinson started his college career at Alabama and finished at Texans. He ran for 796 yards and eight touchdowns, but he has more value as a kick returner. He averaged 23.6 yards per kickoff return on 39 returns in his career. The Jaguars signed receiver/returner Devin Duvernay to replace Jamal Agnew, but the new kickoff rule makes returners more valuable and teams may opt to put two returners on the field at the same time. He also covered kicks at Texas so this is a special teams pick for the Jaguars.
Round 6, No. 212: Cam Little, K, Tennessee
My take: Little is the most accurate kicker in Arkansas history, making 82.8% of his attempts (53 of 64) in his three-year career. He also never missed a PAT (129 for 129). He'll be the third kicker on the roster, joining Joey Slye and Riley Patterson, who kicked the game-winning field goal in the Jaguars' 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild card playoff game following the 2022 regular season. The Jaguars had agreed to terms with Denver kicker Wil Lutz in free agency but Lutz decided to return to the Broncos, so Little would likely be the favorite to win the competition with Slye and Patterson.
Round 7, No. 236 overall: Myles Cole, DE, Texas Tech
My take: Cole's measurables at the combine were impressive: 36 7/8-inch arms (longest of any player) and a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He also ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash, which is impressive for a 6-foot-6, 278-pounder. But his college production wasn't as impressive, with five sacks in six seasons (four years at Louisiana-Monroe and two at Texas Tech). He's a developmental project.
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