Despite the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, there were many positives to take away from the game, not least of which was the performance of the team’s rookie class.

Five of the nine members of the Jags’ 2024 draft were in contention, and each of them made the most of their opportunities. All five saw their stocks rise, while two players who weren’t on the field are trending downward for now.

Stock trend upwards

Brian Thomas Jr.

Jags fans were excited about Brian Thomas Jr.’s rookie potential during the preseason, and his performance in Week 1 fueled that excitement even further.

The first-round pick out of LSU caught 4 balls for 47 yards in his NFL debut and was directly responsible for both of the Jaguars’ touchdowns against the Dolphins. The first came from a forced DPI on Jalen Ramsey in the end zone, where BTJ absolutely blew the three-time All-Pro off the line to set up a 1-yard touchdown on the next play. The second was almost poetic, as Thomas hauled in a beautiful ball from Trevor Lawrence in the back of the end zone that was eerily similar to many plays receivers couldn’t make for Lawrence last season.

His smoothness and speed are impossible to ignore as he seemingly moves differently than any other receiver on this roster. Brian Thomas Jr. is just scratching the surface of what he can do for this offense, as it seems to be only a matter of time before he becomes the primary focus of Jacksonville’s passing attack.

Martin Smith

Despite not being a big player in the stat column, Maason Smith made the Dolphins offensive line notice him on Sunday. The second-round pick from LSU showed off his strengths in the run game a few times, and the run replay in the clip below gives fans a taste of the power and physicality he’s just scratching the surface of. (check out #94 against right tackle)

If Smith can consistently win the physical battle at that 3-technique position, he will add a whole new element to a defensive front that could be very good in 2024. His development will be a major key to Jacksonville’s defense this season.

Jarrian Jones

Jarrian Jones played only seventeen defensive snaps on Sunday, but one of them stood out so much that it definitely belongs in the stock-up category. Early in the first quarter, the Dolphins faced a 3rd-and-8 just outside field goal range and Jones was facing the man the players voted as the NFL’s best player last season, Tyreek Hill. Hill ran a slot fade and the rookie kept up with the league’s fastest man with every step. He forced Hill to the sideline and the ball fell incomplete.

That would be impressive even for a seasoned veteran, let alone a rookie. His speed and competitive style of play are a perfect fit for this defensive scheme, which is good because Jones could get a lot more playing time following Tyson Campbell’s hamstring injury.

Michael Cole

When the Jaguars selected Myles Cole with the last pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it was assumed that he was just a developmental pass rusher destined for a practice squad spot in his first year. However, Cole showed enough in the preseason to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster, and not only that, he was active and played a real role in his first-ever NFL appearance on Sunday.

Cole played 11 defensive snaps and looked as competitive as one would hope for a player who had little to no immediate expectations when he arrived in Jacksonville. His development will be very important as the season progresses.

Cam Small

Cam “Kickin” Little (nickname still being developed) is becoming a fan favorite in Jacksonville. The rookie kicker was great throughout the preseason and that has now carried over into the regular season.

His 53-yard field goal at the end of the first half gave the Jaguars a two-possession lead, and he also made both of his extra points. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t give him a chance for a game-winning score at the end of the game, but something tells me he’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so in his Jacksonville career.

Stock trend downward

Javon Foster and Jordan Jefferson

Of the eight 2024 draft picks currently on the 53-man roster, Javon Foster and Jordan Jefferson were the only two who did not play in Sunday’s game.

It’s not the end of the world, as both players are behind veterans at their respective positions, but it does suggest that they are still a long way from being a meaningful contributor to this team. They are trending downward at the moment, but their development is something to keep an eye on.

Stock to be announced

De’Antre Prince

De’Antre Prince was the only active rookie who didn’t play against the Dolphins on Sunday. Given his absence, it’s hard to say if he’s trending up or down right now — to keep him in the dark, we’ve set his value to TBD. Given Campbell’s injury, there’s a good chance Prince will make his first NFL appearance on Sunday against the Browns. We’ll be watching closely to see how his value develops next week.