JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser and Jaguars analyst Bucky Brooks examine the Jaguars' wide receiver position in this position-by-position look at the '26 offseason:
Position: Wide receiver.
Position coach: Edgar Bennett.
2025 starters: Brian Thomas Jr. (14), Parker Washington (7), Jakobi Meyers (7), Dyami Brown (6), Tim Patrick (3), Travis Hunter (2).
Others: Tim Jones, Austin Trammell, Chandler Brayboy, Joshua Cephus.
2025 at a glance: This became a position of balance and strength for the Jaguars in 2025, with Washington emerging as their leading receiver with 58 receptions 847 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas caught 48 passes for 707 yards and two touchdowns, with Meyers in nine Jaguars games catching 42 passes for 483 yards and three touchdowns. Hunter, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, caught 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown while also playing extensively at cornerback – with Brown catching 20 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown and Patrick catching 15 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
Offseason storyline: This figures to be something of an area to watch in the offseason, with Washington – entering his fourth offseason – a prime candidate for a contract extension after emerging as a go-to receiver in his third NFL season. The Jaguars extended Meyers' contract shortly after acquiring the seven-year veteran in a November trade with the Las Vegas Raiders and Thomas in 2026 will enter his third season after being the No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. With Hunter entering his second season, the Jaguars could return their top four receivers from a group that developed and improved dramatically in the first season in Head Coach Liam Coen's offense. One storyline to watch in this area: Patrick, who was a solid fourth receiver in the second half of the season, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on the March 11 start of the 2026 NFL League Year. Another storyline: The return to health of Hunter, who missed the final 10 games of the season with a knee injury sustained in practice before the team's Week 9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Free agents as of March 11: Brown, Patrick, Cephus (exclusive rights free agents).
Bucky Brooks' top three free-agent wide receivers: 1, George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys (Cowboys placed franchise tag on Pickens); 2, Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts; 3, Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks.
Bucky Brooks' top three collegiate wide receiver prospects: 1, Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State; 2, Carnell Tate, Ohio State; 3, Makai Lemon, Southern California.
Oehser analysis: This was a fascinating and important position for the Jaguars in 2025, with the group evolving as the season continued and helping the offense – and quarterback Trevor Lawrence – join the NFL's elite in the second half of the season. The season began with Hunter, Brown and Thomas as the team's top three receivers and ended with Washington, Meyers and Thomas in that group. While there was no true No. 1 receiver by season's end, it was a balanced group with Lawrence showing high trust in Washington, Meyers and Thomas – and with the group balanced enough that it was difficult for defenses to know who to double team. Credit the Jaguars on this front for not leaning on reputation and allowing players such as Washington – who entered the season as the No. 4 receiver – to earn increased key roles. The major offseason question is what role Hunter will play next season. He figures to start at and play extensively at cornerback. How extensively he plays offensively, and how the Jaguars use his elusiveness and playmaking ability, could be determined on the fly in training camp.
Brooks analysis: After a rocky start, the Jaguars' wideouts finished the season with a bang. Part of the group's success can be attributed to the midseason acquisition of Meyers and Washington's emergence as a clutch playmaker. Despite surrendering valuable draft assets (2026 fourth- and sixth-round draft picks), Meyers added a sure-handed pass catcher to the lineup at a time when the wide receivers were struggling with drops. Additionally, Meyers' reliability as a playmaker between the hashes helped Lawrence find his rhythm within Coen's scheme. With Washington also showing tremendous growth as a pass catcher and playmaker on the perimeter, the Jaguars' franchise quarterback finished the season playing at an MVP level. Thomas shook off a slow start and settled in as the team's designated big-play specialist. Although the Jaguars need him to play like a WR1 in 2026 and beyond, the former first-rounder's contributions as a high-end role player paid huge dividends down the stretch. Hunter's season-ending injury and Brown's inconsistent play were major disappointments, but the group's resilience and improved chemistry with Lawrene bodes well for the future.
