Big Cat Country
Looking back at last year’s draft haul
With the 2025 NFL Draft just around the corner, it seems as good a time as any to review how the Jaguars fared during their last annual selection meeting. Acknowledging that the first 12 months of an NFL players’ career does not necessarily determine the trajectory of the rest of their time as a professional - and also that Jacksonville’s front office has a totally different look now to what it did then - we can at least gauge the teams draft weekend performance based on year one’s returns. Let’s get into it!
We don’t need more than 17 games to know that the first round selection of Brian Thomas Jr was a home run hit. 87 catches, 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first campaign saw the LSU receiver very quickly establish himself as WR1 for the Jaguars. Already considered a top-10 WR in the league, he’ll be burning corners for years to come.
Grade: A+
An immediate contributor on the defensive front, Maason Smith enjoyed healthy snap numbers his first six games as a Jaguar with modest production - his first sack coming against the Chicago Bears in mid-October. An ankle injury meant he was inactive for a five game stretch in the middle of the season before enjoying an increased role down the stretch - averaging over 60% of snaps the rest of the year. Smith started the last five games of 2024 and looks set for a starting role the coming year.
Grade: B-
Already a crowd favorite for his tenacity on the field, Jarrian Jones eased his way into defensive duties with the Jaguars last year. Predominantly featuring as relief at nickel to start his career, significant injury in the secondary saw Jones moved around the back end to cover where needed. Good performances on the outside saw his snap numbers increase, with his interception against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 and a five-tackle performance in the win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 particular highlights. Jones is slated to be a starter on the outside in 2025 - not bad for a 3rd round pick!
Grade: B+
A healthy scratch for all but four games his rookie season, Javon Foster failed to make any impact on the Jaguars’ depth chart in 2024. With zero snaps played on offense and just 12 on special teams (nine of which came in the final two games), there’s very little tape to determine his role or value moving forward. A big offseason awaits for the Missouri offensive tackle.
Grade: E
The second interior defensive lineman and third LSU Tiger taken in this draft, Jordan Jefferson was probably not expected to...
