Coming off a 4-13 season in 2024, the Jacksonville Jaguars have completely turned the ship around and look like Super Bowl contenders for the foreseeable future. Arguably, the main reason for this sudden success is the hiring of now HC Liam Coen.
After their loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Jaguars can now begin the offseason, but the future of second-year WR Brian Thomas looms over them.
HC Liam Coen Sheds Light on Brian Thomas’ Future With the Jaguars
Last year, in his rookie season, Thomas was one of the best offensive rookies in the NFL. Every game, the former LSU WR proved why he was a solidified piece for the future, but statistically, it looked like the sophomore slump hit him.
Jaguars HC Liam Coen on future of Brian Thomas Jr. after drop in production:
“When you are part of a team that wins, the wealth will be shared. It will never truly be about one player. I will continue to pour into these guys… BT will 100% be a part of that.”
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 14, 2026
Still, the young WR has all the potential in the world, and after being asked about Thomas’ future with the team, Coen made his feelings clear: “When you are part of a team that wins, the wealth will be shared. It will never truly be about one player. I will continue to pour into these guys… BT will 100% be a part of that.”
For good reason, Coen is confident in Thomas’ future with the team, and his role in the offense may be larger next season, but why is the conversation even happening?
Thomas’ Statistical Slide
Looking at PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, in 2024, Thomas finished 3rd in receiving yards, 5th in receiving touchdowns, and ranked 4th overall among all WRs. He wasn’t just one of the best rookies; he was one of the best WRs in the NFL. Now, focusing on 2025, the numbers dropped. Thomas was 36th in receiving yards, 74th in receiving touchdowns, and 71st overall.
One reason for the decline in production was that Thomas missed three games, but one stat stands out as the actual primary catalyst. In 2024, Thomas was targeted 133 times, but in 2025, his targets dropped to 91.
This could have been due to Coen bringing over his offensive scheme and Thomas’s role being slightly diminished, but in 2024, Thomas was by far the top receiver on the roster. This season, the Jaguars added CB/WR Travis Hunter in the draft, traded for WR Jakoby Meyers mid-season, and had the emergence of Parker Washington.
Clearly, Thomas was no longer the only option for QB Trevor Lawrence to throw to, and the statistical fall-off could have been less about the player and more about the situation.
