Jaguars sign first-round draft pick Brian Thomas Jr., rookie contract details revealed

The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially signed first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr, inking the former LSU star to a four-year deal. The rookie will receive a $7.48 million signing bonus on the $14.66 million fully guaranteed deal.

Thomas, a wide receiver selected No. 23 overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, will have a salary of $795,000 in 2024. As a first-round pick, Thomas’ contract comes with a fifth-year option for the Jaguars that could keep him in Jacksonville through the 2028 season.

The team also announced that Thomas will take over the No. 7 jersey, which Zay Jones wore last season. Jones is now on the hunt for a new team.

Thomas bolsters Jaguars’ WR room following departures

The Jacksonville Jaguars could have gone several different directions with their first-round pick, but ultimately, they decided to solve their wide receiver conundrum. They lost both Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones from the 2023 team that went 9-8, but picked up Thomas and Gabe Davis over the last month. The first-rounder was the first of three LSU stars that the Jaguars drafted this year.

After two middling seasons at LSU, Thomas broke out in a big way in 2023. In 13 games, he hauled in 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns. Thomas earned second-team All-SEC honors. He and fellow NFL Draft prospect Malik Nabers combined to make up arguably the best receiver tandem in the country last season.

Thomas put his blazing speed on display at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He clocked a 4.33 40-yard dash, second-fastest among receivers.

Thomas told reporters during his introductory press conference that he models his game after Julio Jones.

“Growing up, my favorite wide receiver would have to be Julio Jones, just growing up and watching him do the things that he can do,” Thomas said. “I was kind of bigger, so I was trying to model my game after somebody who had my body type. I would say Julio Jones, he was my favorite player, or one of my favorite players; my favorite wide receiver growing up.”

Thomas played high school football for Walker High School in Louisiana, where he was a four-star prospect. He ranked as the No. 93 overall prospect and No. 15 receiver in the 2021 class, according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.