The Jacksonville Jaguars came short of expectations in 2024, finishing 4-13 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. But as underwhelming as they were, not everything was doom and gloom. There were certainly bright spots, and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. was one of them. Drafted 23rd overall, it didn't take him long to establish himself as a bona fide No. 1 receiver.
If the Jags had to do it all over again, they would surely pick him again. But what if another team selected him earlier, and he were no longer on the board? Who would they choose? That's a question Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report tried to answer in his latest draft do-over.
Knox redid the 2024 draft. He had Thomas instead of fellow receiver Rome Odunze going to the Chicago Bears with the ninth overall pick, and Lad McConkey landing in Jacksonville at No. 17. Here's the skinny:
"So, Jacksonville grabs former Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey, who was originally drafted 34th overall by the Chargers," Knox wrote. "McConkey wasn't quite as impressive as Thomas as a rookie, but he managed to catch 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns while serving as Justin Herbert's favorite target."
All things considered, McConkey isn't a bad fallback. After all, he tallied as many receptions as Thomas. Although he's not nearly as fast, he's equally crafty. His ability to run crisp routes allowed him to establish himself as Justin Herbert's go-to target right off the bat.
It's also worth noting that Jacksonville originally had the 17th overall pick in 2024 but made a deal with the Minnesota Vikings to move down six spots in exchange for two third-round picks and a fourth-round selection. It ended up taking Thomas, but if he hadn't been available, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that cornerback Terrian Arnold might have been the choice, as he earned strong consideration from the Jags' brass.
Arnold ended up going to the Detroit Lions one pick later, but didn't get his name called in B/R's draft do-over.
The Jaguars wouldn't trade Brian Thomas Jr. for anything in the world
As good as Ladd McConkey is, the Jacksonville Jaguars wouldn't pick him over Brian Thomas Jr. After all, he managed to thrive despite the fact that he caught passes from Mac Jones for nearly half of the season in Doug Pederson's unimaginative scheme. Imagine what the Louisiana native will be able to accomplish under much better circumstances. For starters, opposing teams will no longer be able to zero in on him.
The Jags added Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown in the offseason. Although they'll take away some of Thomas' targets, they'll also leave him with more favorable matchups. Similarly, Liam Coen's creative game planning should allow the sophomore receiver to take off next season.
If that wasn't enough, Trevor Lawrence should be back behind center, and if he once again manages to play like a top-10 quarterback, the coaching staff won't hesitate to dial up deep shots that will take advantage of his deep-threat capability.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars have a keeper in Brian Thomas Jr., and there's no reason to change him when he's already established himself as an offensive mainstay.
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