JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Yeti Daddy from Somewhere and Yet Nowhere
Let's row the O‑O‑O boat for a minute before fans declare Brian Thomas Jr. the next unstoppable WR1 based on a single June highlight — or start helping him find a job elsewhere. He is entering Year Three now. The rookie learning curve is behind him, the second‑year slump definitely introduced itself and the fanbase has already ridden the full rollercoaster. So, what is the realistic expectation at this point? What does Year Three look like for him in this offense once we strip away the hype? And what is the biggest unknown that decides whether he finally becomes a consistent difference‑maker or remains one of those "maybe next year" guys?
Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. remains a hot-button 2026 offseason Jaguars issue, but while he indeed had a really nice catch during Day 1 Jaguars Minicamp practice Tuesday morning, I get no sense that Jaguars fans and observers – or the team – will overreact to one reception in traffic in non-padded June work. And if one June reception means little, a body of work in June has some merit – even if it's non-padded merit. Thomas has looked very good in organized team activities and minicamp – and Head Coach Liam Coen has made clear that he likes the chemistry Thomas and quarterback Trevor Lawrence are building in these weeks. That is particularly true of their timing in the deep passing game, which Coen repeatedly has said is a real offseason priority. What is the expectation for Thomas in Year 3? I have no idea how to answer that in terms of fans. As for the team, the expectation is that Thomas will be a key part of a balanced receiving corps that includes Parker Washingon, Jakobi Meyers and Travis Hunter. That doesn't mean Thomas must be a "WR1" and there is no magic yardage or touchdown total that will make him The Player We All Expected. Thomas must be a deep threat, and he must play well enough that defenses must account for him each week. If he does those things, he will make this a better offense. That's what the Jaguars need from him.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Do you have any deep thoughts on a four-point field goal for long-distance kicks? There were two of them in a UFL game on Sunday.
When thinking, I tend to keep a toe in the shallow – not the deep – end. With that in mind, and remembering that I am an old man who shouts at clouds and believes change of any sort is evil, I will you I am not a fan of changing scoring in the NFL. Three points for field goals works, and I see no need for change. I also don't love the idea of teams losing yards intentionally or otherwise jockeying for the field position necessary to maneuver for longer field goals. This is not to say the NFL never will adopt such a rule. It very possibly could happen and be a positive. My passion about my opinion on this matter in no way means I am right.
Daniel from St J
Darn it. You and Wes blew up Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone's latest "maneuver." And he already had one poor AFC schlepp on the hook for a second and a third next season. Keep quiet … genius at work!
My bad.
Ryan from Reality
Speaking of 1,000-yard seasons … did you know the last time a Jaguars receiver had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons was Jimmy Smith OVER 20 YEARS AGO!? Why has this team had such futility developing wide receivers, even though we have used plenty of high draft picks on the position? Setting wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter aside as a unicorn … we had Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round follow a great rookie season with a flop second year. We had second-rounder Laviska Shenault in 2020. DJ Chark Jr. in the second in 2018, Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson both in the 2014 second round. Of course, there's the "what might have been" with Justin Blackmon drafted at No. 5 overall in 2012, and the "what were they thinking?" Matt Jones pick in the first round of 2005, and the ultra-bust pick of Reggie Williams at No. 9 overall in 2004 who was straight up out of the league in five years. Not to mention any of our forays into free agency. Can you think of any other positions so perpetually snakebitten/underperforming?
The Jaguars have had many rough times and rough positions in the last two-plus decades, and I don't know that wide receiver ranks all that much higher in this conversation than other positions. Why have the Jaguars issues at receiver specifically? Missed draft selections. Overpaying on the wrong free agents. Tough circumstances internally. These are usually the reasons teams struggle acquiring and developing quality players. and the Jaguars for a long time had those issues. But the thought here is that this "take" is a bit dated. The good news for the franchise and its fans is there are plenty of signs that the days of repeatedly missing at one position or the other are largely in the past. That includes receiver, where the Jaguars appear to have at least three of four really good players – Hunter, Thomas, Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington. That's a good group, maybe really good.
Matt from Pace, FL
Yo, Zone! So, Coen says: "This offense runs through multiple people, it doesn't just feed through one person." First off, I love it. It should be that way. It's all about team success. Second, for this to be successful, you need a quarterback who can read a defense, make adjustments, have an understanding of who will be open (at least more likely) given what a defense is showing. Sounds like Trevor is growing into that type of quarterback!
Unquestionably.
Joshua from Hanoi, Vietnam
It's really bizarre that people even bat an eye about former Jags going to a team that wins a Super Bowl. I get that releasing a player that then goes on to a Pro Bowl kind of stings, but being on a roster of 53 players to win a Super Bowl is really a nothing burger.
Fans fan. It's what they do. But when fanning extends to being irritated when a former Jaguars player wins a Super Bowl as a role player for another team … that's sort of next-level fanning. Or something like that.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
No questions for you today, John. Just wanted to take this new submission box out for a spin. Hey, look at this! Wide lanes! This is so luxurious!
It's not a lie if you believe it.
Raymond Sis from Windermere
First of all, Raymond Sis makes it about Raymond Sis, because everything is about Raymond Sis. Second, the Jags need to do fun stuff, cool stuff, so they win. Winning is cool.
How can it always be about you when everyone knows it's about me? Winning indeed is cool. Fans like it.
Art from Just shy of the ditch
So, what's up with the phone app? Last several days on my android, it crashes before I get a gander. Error message indicates it's on your end. Uninstall and reinstall doesn't solve? C'mon Man!
Tech 1, Art 0.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
A close friend of Peter King? Your funkiness impresses me to no end. How did you meet him? Any fun stories from back in the day you would care to grace the O-Zone with? Something tells me PK and JO could make Strings close the following day for running out of "product".
Peter King and I became "friends" because we saw each other quite frequently covering the NFL for the better part of three decades. I don't know that we are "close" friends. Peter's a smart guy. When it comes to friendship with yours truly, smart people understandably keep a reasonable distance.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Who is the best Jaguars player to wear No. 40?
We have reached No. 40 in our discussion of the best player in Jaguars history to wear specific numbers. Forty isn't an overly popular number in Jaguars lore and possibilities here include fullback Tommy Bohanon (2017-2018) and perhaps cornerback Robet Massey (1995). We will go with Bohanon here because that was a big touchdown he caught in an AFC Divisional Playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2017 season. Ah, memories.
Easy Ed from Jax
Understandable why you skipped 40. 41 should be easy!
We didn't "skip" No. 40 as much as we delayed it a day. And yes … I expect No. 41 will be quite easy in this discussion.
Jordan from Lincoln, NE
Let me get this train back on track. No. 40 is a no man's land, so I will allow you to pick that one. For No. 41, I will take defensive end Josh Hines-Allen.
How nice to know.
