Like everyone else who watched Brian Thomas Jr.’s rookie season, new Jacksonville Jaguars’ wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett is impressed with what he saw.
“I’m steady watching it and just getting more and more excited as for who he is, what he’s about,” Bennett told The Florida Times-Union (via NFL.com). “I was surprised, because when I first got here, people were telling me, as far as, you know, the way he carries himself, his demeanor, very quiet and confident. But on game day, he’s different. He’s different, and I love that about him. Saw that instantly.”
Thomas was a focal point in the Jaguars‘ offense, totaling 129 targets on the season in 2024. He would catch 87 of those receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns. Among all wideouts, Thomas finished the regular season third in receiving yards and he was sixth in PFF’s yards per route run, which is an efficiency metric.
Making Thomas’ production even more impressive is that opponents knew the ball was coming his way, but still struggled to contain him.
Now, as we look ahead to Year 2 for Thomas and what’s next, he is in line for an expanded role within Liam Coen’s offense. This doesn’t only refer to the number of targets Thomas may get this season, but more specifically, it’s how he’s utilized within the offense.
Under Coen, we will see Thomas lining up in the slot more often, which can help create mismatches. The additions of Dyami Brown and Travis Hunter also provide more opportunities for Thomas to attack each level of the field more consistently and his combination or size, speed, and route running abilities allow him to do so in a variety of ways.
All of that creates another layer that defenses will have to account for when defending Thomas and this Jaguars offense. It also enhances that multiplicity element that Coen wants present in the offense.
With Thomas lining up across the formation and threatening each level of the field, defenses won’t get a beat on what’s coming just based on where he’s lined up or who is on the field. That can result in some unpredictability for the Jaguars’ offense, which not only creates opportunities for Thomas but for other pass catchers as well.
“He’s definitely not resting. He doesn’t have that… that’s not in him,” Bennett said. “He always seems like, when talking with him, he has that approach as far as he wants to be the best. And so with that, he put the work in and so that’s his approach.
“He puts the work in, the effort is there each and every day and it starts in the classroom. The moment he walks through the door, it’s almost as though he’s already in that mode as far as the classroom, walkthrough, practice field, weight room, whatever, he’s giving it his all.”
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: New Jaguars coach shares initial impression of Brian Thomas Jr.
