It’s a make-or-break season for the Jacksonville Jaguars with the Trevor Lawrence experiment. The former top overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence has had a pedestrian first three years, with a 2022 Pro Bowl selection sandwiched between two lackluster campaigns.
The team will have to decide soon whether to invest in Lawrence further with a new contract or move on from the former national champion. Whether building around Lawrence or rebuilding after he leaves, the Jaguars will have plenty to lean on coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars Picks by Round In 2024
- Round 1, Pick 23 (from MIN through HOU through CLE)
Brian Thomas Jr., WR | LSU - Round 2, Pick 48
Maason Smith, DT | LSU - Round 3, Pick 96 (Compensatory)
Jarrian Jones, CB | Florida State - Round 4, Pick 114
Javon Foster, OT | Missouri - Round 4, Pick 116 (from NO)
Jordan Jefferson, DT | LSU - Round 5, Pick 153
Deantre Prince, CB | Ole Miss - Round 5, Pick 167 (from MIN through KC)
Keilan Robinson, RB | Texas - Round 6, Pick 212 (Compensatory)
Cam Little, K | Arkansas - Round 7, Pick 236
Myles Cole, DE | Texas Tech
Who Did the Jaguars Draft in 2024?
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Round 1, Pick 23
The Jaguars opted to move down in accepting a deal with the Minnesota Vikings: Sending the 17th pick to the NFC North franchise. Jacksonville not only gained the 23rd pick but a fifth-rounder in the 2024 class and next year’s third and fourth-round selections from Minnesota.
Jacksonville ended up swooping up a needed target for the Pro Bowl quarterback Lawrence: Brian Thomas Jr. of LSU at No. 23. Thomas’ arrival comes after losing Calvin Ridley to the Tennessee Titans during free agency. PFN’s Ian Cummings had Thomas highly rated in a loaded WR class.
Brian Thomas Jr. has the profile to win as a vertical, red-zone, and RAC threat immediately at the NFL level. 👀#GeauxTigers | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/bu2PDMZmtF
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
“Thomas is still relatively raw as a WR, but his production in 2023 was extremely promising, and there are reassuring traits on tape. He’s a catch-point savant whose combined reach, body control, sense of timing, and proactivity can overwhelm defenders in the red zone and on the boundary, and his upside as a route runner is clear as day,” Cummings said.
Thomas joins Malik Nabers as a first-round wideout out of LSU. It’s also the second time since 2021 that two Tiger wideouts went in the first round. And that class featured Terrace Marshall and Ja’Marr Chase.
Maason Smith, DT, Round 2, Pick 48
Jacksonville has shown its taken a liking to this year’s LSU class of NFL prospects. After taking Thomas Jr. in round one, the Jaguars selected his defensive tackle teammate Maason Smith to start Day 2 of the draft.
Smith will come with imposing size in tow. He stands at 6’5″, 306-pounds and will enter an interior defensive lineman room that added another tall, versatile defender in 6’7″ Arik Armstead.
KEEP READING: Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 NFL Draft Grades
With Smith, Jacksonville is getting a “nuclear power plant” as described by Cummings who comes equipped with hyper-elite length. Cummings is impressed with his wingspan.
“Smith has long been billed as a high-upside prospect, and that’s from where his primary appeal is derived. At 6’5″ and 306 pounds, with 35″ arms and a wingspan over seven feet, he’s a lab-built defensive lineman with elite vertical explosiveness, take-on strength, and power capacity,” Cummings said.
Jarrian Jones, CB, Round 3, Pick 96
This time, Jacksonville went with a local prospect by getting Florida State’s Jarrian Jones at 96th overall.
Jones comes in anticipated to challenge for slot cornerback duties. Even on a defense that featured Renardo Green in the secondary, Jones emerged as one of the nation’s top cover corners. Cummings took a liking to his speed — especially from a recovery standpoint.
“His elite explosiveness, twitch, and recovery speed top the list, but he’s also impressively well-versed in off-man coverage, with great vision, click-and-close ability, and physicality at stems,” Cummings said.
Javon Foster, OT, Round 4, Pick 114
Protecting former first-overall pick Trevor Lawrence is the main priority for the Jaguars this offseason. After taking a top receiver in the first round in Thomas Jr., the Jaguars can now focus directly on the offensive line in front of Lawrence.
Foster is a developmental tackle but could project to have a successful NFL career under proper coaching.
“Foster will need some growth for his play to match his upside, but he has fantastic traits that will make him a project several NFL teams will gamble on developing,” Cummings said of the Mizzou tackle. “Foster could push for a top-100 spot, but he likely ends up a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.”
Foster did not reach the top 100, but he found a home in Jacksonville.
Jordan Jefferson, DT, Round 4, Pick 116
Just two picks following the pick of Foster, the Jaguars decided to address the interior of their defensive line with Jordan Jefferson. Jefferson is a solid prospect with a good frame overall. While considered a project overall, Jefferson has the potential to be a solid role player on Jacksonville’s wave of interior defenders.
Deantre Prince, CB, Round 5, Pick 153
With Jacksonville focusing their defense into more of a zone coverage look, Ole Miss cornerback Deantre Prince projects as a nice solid pickup in the fifth round. Prince is an a aggressive playmaker at corner and has experience playing in a top conference.
“Ultimately, Prince may never become a full-time starter, but his best bet would be in Cover-3 heavy or zone-heavy schemes,” Cummings said. “If he can keep working on his pedal and his plant-and-drive, he has a starting upside, and right away, he’s a solid rotational presence with special-teams translatability.”
Keilan Robinson, RB, Round 5, Pick 167
Robinson might be a gamble by the Jaguars in the fifth round, but the kick-return capabilities and his home-run talent make him a key player for Jacksonville. The rule changes to the kick-off rule certainly make Robinson a major commodity in the fifth round.
“Despite his overall lack of production during his collegiate career, Robinson still has the elite movement skills to become a nice rotational piece for a backfield that needs a player who can create mismatches against slower linebackers and safeties in space as a Day 3 prospect,” Cummings said of Robinson.
Cam Little, K, Round 6, Pick 212
A kicker in the sixth round! Little was 20-24 from field goals and never missed an extra point in his college career. He was very good on the makeable field goals under 40 yards but if he can become dependable past that, he should have a nice NFL future.
Myles Cole, DE, Round 7, Pick 236
Plenty of people thought that Cole could have gone earlier in the draft, but he lands with the Jaguars as a steal in the seventh round. Cole should help provide immediate help in the pass rush immediately while having a strong motor.
