JACKSONVILLE – He waited a short while Thursday, but won't have to wait anymore.
Brian Thomas Jr.'s first reaction to being selected by the Jaguars in the 2024 NFL Draft? Excitement and anticipation.
"I'm ready to get to Jacksonville and get going," he said.
Thomas, a wide receiver from Louisiana State University, on Thursday night was selected by the Jaguars No. 23 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Jaguars traded from No. 17 overall with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire the selection to draft Thomas.
Thomas will join a Jaguars offense that features quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the team's starter the last three seasons and the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
"I'm happy," he said. "I'm ready to get going. Trevor's a great quarterback. I'm just ready to get there, put in the work and see what happens from there."
He also will join what currently is a veteran-laden receiver group that features Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Gabe Davis and tight end Evan Engram.
"It's a stacked room," he said. "I just want to get in there, get to work, learn from the older guys and be the best I can be. I want to go and work hard, do what I do, do the things that I can do best and just go up there, put in the work and see where the work takes me."
Many observers had projected the Jaguars could select Thomas with their original selection.
"You just have to be patient and wait until your name is called," he said. "You put your faith in God and know that he's going to put you in the right position. I just put my faith in God knowing that he didn't bring me here for no reason. He's going to put me in the right position."
Thomas visited the Jaguars' facility for a "Top 30" visit during the pre-draft process.
"I was pretty confident after I left, so I knew that there was a chance that I could get selected by the Jaguars, but I didn't know for sure if they were going to pick me or not," Thomas said.
Thomas (6-feet-2, 209 pounds), who played three seasons at LSU and entered the draft as an early-entry junior, was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a third-team All-America selection in 2023. He led FBS in 2023 with 17 touchdown receptions, scoring in 10 of 13 games.
He caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023.
"Just my ability to use my speed, to be able to get up and create space on defenders, I would say that's a big role in how I play," he said.
Thomas became the sixth LSU player selected by the Jaguars in the NFL Draft, the first since edge K'Lavon Chaisson (Round 1, 2020).
Thomas also became the fifth wide receiver selected by the Jaguars in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. They previously selected Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State, No. 5 overall, 2012), Matt Jones (Arkansas, No. 21 overall, 2005), Reggie Nelson (Washington, No. 9 overall, 2004) and R. Jay Soward (Southern California, No. 29 overall, 2000) in their respective first rounds.
