Jaguars 2024 NFL Draft: Wide receivers to watch in each round

Get to know a few wide receivers from each round that may be on the Jaguars’ radar ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a near lock to take a wide receiver (or two) in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, it’s tough to gauge when they will pull the trigger considering their other glaring needs.

Throughout the draft season, there has been a mixed bag of predictions regarding this topic.

Back in March, after failing to bring back Calvin Ridley in free agency, mock drafts everywhere had come to the consensus that they were taking a receiver at 17th overall. Since then, the predictions have varied from trading all the way up into the top 10, to waiting to address the position until the tail end of the third round.

With so many possibilities on the table, it could behoove Jags fans to familiarize themselves with a few wide receivers from each round that Jacksonville may be interested in in the 2024 NFL Draft.

FIRST ROUND

Brian Thomas Jr., LSU

Brian Thomas Jr. has been one of the most mocked players to the Jaguars throughout the draft process, and for good reason. The 6-foot-3 product of LSU put up gaudy numbers in 2023, notching 68 catches for 1,177 yards and an NCAA-high 17 touchdowns.

His vertical speed and ability to win downfield are his calling cards, which just so happen to coincide with what the Jaguars are lacking at the position at the moment.

Thomas Jr. has been the consensus WR4 throughout most of the draft process and could be a hot commodity if the big three receivers all go within the top 10 picks. If he’s the guy for Jacksonville, they may need to look to move up ahead of the Indianapolis Colts at 15 to ensure they get him.

Adonai Mitchell, Texas

Adonai Mitchell is another player who has been linked to the Jaguars in mock drafts over the past few months, and he would bring a similar blend of size, speed and technical prowess of Brian Thomas Jr.

Mitchell stands 6-foot-2 and tips the scales over 200 pounds but has the quickness and fluidity as a route runner you would expect from someone much smaller. That’s not to say he plays small, however. Mitchell knows how to use his size to his advantage as he does a nice job tracking the ball downfield and winning late in routes.

Pair all of that with the fact that Mitchell put on one of the most absurd combine performances the wide receiver position has ever seen and it’s not hard to see why the Jaguars could be tempted to nab Mitchell in the first round.

Other Notable Options: Rome Odunze, Washington (Not believed to be available barring aggressive trade up)

SECOND ROUND

Keon Coleman, FSU

After a polarizing performance at the 2024 NFL Combine, Florida State’s Keon Coleman could suddenly be a realistic option for the Jaguars back at pick 48 of the second round.

The 6-foot-3 Coleman may not be the fastest player in shorts, but his tape is littered with athleticism and big play ability.

His ability to go up and get the football is right up there with the top players in this class, and although his downfield speed is lacking, he has proven to have more than enough short-area quickness to believe he can overcome the separation concerns that have plagued his draft projection.

Nabbing Coleman in the middle of the second round would not only be fantastic value, but his inside/outside versatility and ability to win contested balls would be a breath of fresh air for Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville offense.

Ricky Pearsall, Florida

There isn’t a receiver in this class who has climbed draft boards quite as much as Ricky Pearsall over the last few months. Pearsall entered draft season as a likely late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick, but his performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine have elevated his stock to potentially as high as the top of the second round.

It just so happens that the Jaguars have a pick in his projected range, and they’ve already been linked to Pearsall in the past. Back in March, Trent Baalke reportedly canceled a trip to Florida’s Pro Day after it was announced that Pearsall would forgo workouts.

It’s easy to see why there would be interest. Pearsall is a technician when it comes to route-running, and he has strong hands and quick feet. He put up some legitimately elite athletic testing numbers in Indy. Pearsall would be an excellent replacement for Zay Jones if the team decides to move on from him post-June 1.

Xavier Legette, South Carolina

One of the more difficult projections amongst the 2024 receiver group, Xavier Legette may not be the most refined receiver prospect in this draft, but boy is he one the most fun.

At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Legette is built in the same mold as some of the top bully ball receivers around the league, ala Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown. He has some work to do when it comes to his release package and route tree, but what Legette lacks in that department he makes up for with long speed, play strength and supreme body control in 50/50 ball situations. He’s also very good as a blocker in the run game, which we know Doug Pederson appreciates.

Given it was recently reported that Xavier Legette had a pre-draft visit with the Jaguars, there’s obvious interest. However, it would be pretty surprising if Legette was still on the board at 48th overall, so if they think he’s their guy, they may need to move up 10+ spots to nab him.

Other Notable Options: Ladd McConkey, Georgia

THIRD ROUND

Devontez Walker, UNC

Maybe the worst-kept secret for the Jaguars leading into the 2024 NFL Draft is their obvious interest in North Carolina wide receiver, Devontez Walker.

To this point, Jacksonville has had a virtual meeting with him, attended his pro day, and brought him into the building for a Top-30 visit. Per our records, Walker is the only prospect in the last two seasons to do all three.

His combination of length and speed certainly makes their infatuation understandable. Walker ran a 4.36 at the NFL Combine and measured in the 84th percentile for arm length (33.25”). He’s a true field-stretcher who would complement the rest of Jacksonville’s receiving corps.

Jalen McMillan, Washington

Another player the Jaguars have shown some interest in is Washington’s Jalen McMillan.

Due to being in the most loaded offense in college football in 2023, McMillan’s production might not stand out at first site, but if you watch the tape it’s pretty easy to see why Jacksonville could like him in the third round.

McMillan is another downfield threat (noticing a theme here?) with good speed, route-running savvy and stop/start ability that makes me think of another certain Jags receiver that just recently departed in free agency.

Other Notable Names: Jermaine Burton, Alabama; Javon Baker, UCF

FOURTH ROUND

Jamari Thrash, Louisville

While I don’t anticipate the Jaguars waiting until Round 4 to address the receiver position, I do think it’s possible they could double dip at the position at any point on Day 3.

A guy who has been criminally under-discussed in this draft cycle is Louisville’s Jamari Trash.

Thrash fits what Jacksonville likes in their Z receivers as he possesses the requisite speed and route-running ability that could allow him to carve out a role as a rookie. While he is best suited to play out of the slot, Thrash can play outside and would provide a spark in the motion game.

Johnny Wilson, FSU

Florida State’s Johnny Wilson is one of the tougher projections in the draft class, but his rare blend of size and athleticism certainly makes him worth considering at this point.

At over 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Wilson has the size of an in-line tight end with the movement skills of a legitimate outside wide receiver at the next level.

His release and route angles are surprisingly smooth considering his length, and his size in contested catch and red zone situations would add an interesting wrinkle to the Jacksonville offense. That said, Wilson’s hands are less than reliable, so he’ll need a little more fine-tuning than most of the other players we’ve broken down.

Other Notable Options: Luke McCaffrey, Rice; Brendan Rice, USC

FIFTH ROUND

Cornelius Johnson, Michigan

A name that has picked up a little bit of steam late in the draft process has been Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson.

Another player with a great blend of size and athleticism, Cornelius Johnson was an integral part of the Michigan offense in 2024. He was their go-to target when they wanted to push the ball down the field, and his tenacity as a blocker contributed greatly to their top-ranked rush offense last season.

Although not the most explosive player, there’s a lot to like about Johnson’s developmental upside.

Josh Cephus, UTSA

Yet another big-body wide receiver that the Jaguars have already shown interest in, UTSA’s Josh Cephus could be one of the biggest sleepers in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Cephus was an extremely productive player with the Roadrunners, as he set school records for career receptions (313) and yards (3,639). He projects as a big slot-type that excels at eating up yards after the catch as well as winning contested ball situations downfield.

Although limited athletically, there is a lot to like about Cephus’ game. He could likely be had late on Day 3 if the Jaguars want to add some size and depth late in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Other Notable Options: Jalen Coker, Holy Cross

SIXTH ROUND

Jordan Whittington, Texas

Built more like a running back than a receiver, Jordan Whittington is another big slot type that could make sense for the Jags in the later rounds if they go with a more traditional X option in the early rounds.

The Ringo Starr of the Texas receiver room, Whittington might not have been the frontman, but he did a lot of the dirty work that only made the stars look that much better. His willingness to mix it up in the run game and fight through traffic in the middle of the field reminds me of Jake Bobo coming out last year.

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia

Like Whittington, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint would be the perfect late-round contrast to a lot of the speedier targets the Jaguars could look to add in the early rounds.

The Georgia product is a possession receiver with huge hands that rely on physicality and timing to make an impact. His limited athleticism and lack of production won’t make him any more than a late Day 3 target, but Rosemy-Jacksaint would be a nice swing of the bat for Jacksonville if they want to double-dip at wide receiver.

SEVENTH ROUND

Ryan Flournoy, Southeast Missouri State

Ryan Flournoy has all the physical traits you look for when taking a flyer on a late-round wide receiver prospect from a small school. He’s got good size at 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds and put up some elite testing numbers at the NFL Combine.

However, as should be expected with a player projected to be a late Day 3 pick, Flournoy is a work in progress when it comes to the technical side of playing wide receiver in the NFL. Even so, he would be an interesting developmental player for Jacksonville to snag in the 7th.

Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky

Not many in the draft community have been discussing Kentucky’s Tayvion Robinson this offseason but he is very much a Doug Pederson type of receiver that could be had at this stage of the 2024 NFL Draft.

In three years at Virginia Tech and two at Kentucky, Robinson proved to be a versatile chess piece, totaling 2,881 yards and 16 touchdowns from scrimmage while also showcasing ability in the return game.

That versatility is something Pederson has always coveted at the receiver position, which makes Tayvion Robinson a logical option if Jacksonville decides to double-dip at the position late on Day 3.

Jaguars fans, which receiver prospect are you hoping to see in teal next fall?