The Jacksonville Jaguars vs New York Jets Week 15 matchup provided insight into three key players that should be cornerstones of the Jaguars in 2025. Despite the their 32 to 25 loss at home, there is a lot of optimism for plenty of players on the roster. These three players showed they should be cornerstones for the Jaguars in 2025 and into the future.
Three Huge Cornerstones For 2025 From Jaguars vs. Jets Week 15
On the Jaguars roster, there are holes littered throughout. The majority of those holes, however, are on defense. Jacksonville needs edge-rushing depth defensive tackle help, and in one of the two positional battles for the Jaguars vs Jets week 15 matchup, the cornerbacks were taken advantage of. While the defense is a mess, the other areas aren’t quite as bad.
Fortunately, the offense and special teams are very sound. From Trevor Lawrence at quarterback and the offensive line being locked up into the future, the Jaguars’ core pieces on offense are squared away for the future. Logan Cooke at punter and Ross Matiscik as the long snapper have also been stalwarts for the Jaguars special teams.
Overall, Jacksonville’s offense and special teams are very sound. In the Jaguars vs Jets week 15 game, three players solidified themselves as being major contributors on offense and special teams for 2025. Adding to those strong units are an ascending wide receiver, a tight end coming into his own, and a kicker who has been building confidence throughout the season.
The Spotlight Player From Jaguars vs Jets Week 15
It’s no surprise for any Jaguars fans, but Brian Thomas Jr. is the MVP from the Jaguars vs Jets week 15 matchup. Against a good Jets’ secondary, Thomas put together one of the best performances in his incredibly strong rookie breakout campaign. Thomas, one of the Jaguars future stars to watch for each week, had 105 yards and two touchdowns on ten receptions.
Part of his success was his flexibility, being moved all across the offensive formation. From lining up outside to getting reps in the slot, the Jaguars rookie found ways to contribute from all over the field. Thomas has been steadily rising the wide receiver leaderboards amongst rookies, and with his performance in week 15, Thomas has the edge over plenty of veteran receivers.
Among all rookies, Thomas is the leader with the most yards at 956 and most touchdowns with eight. He continues to improve with each week and is finding ways to be a massive contributor despite dealing with backup quarterback Mac Jones filling in for an injured Lawrence.
If there was any player to fill the spotlight for the Jaguars, it would be Thomas. Not only is he making massive contributions in 2024, but he is setting himself up to be a cornerstone piece for the Jaguars offense in 2025. His role will only continue to grow, and with Lawrence back, he could ascend to becoming one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
An Undersold Cornerstone From Jaguars Loss
Jacksonville has had pro-bowl tight end Evan Engram locking down the tight end spot ever since he signed a one-year deal in Jacksonville following a tumultuous end in New York. But before game, it was announced that Engram was set to undergo season-ending surgery. Filling in for his shoes was sophomore tight end Brenton Strange.
Strange got an opportunity to be the starting tight end in weeks two through five while Engram was out early in the season. In those four weeks, Strange had 120 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 12 receptions. But since Engrams’ return, his totals have dropped off. Now, in week 15, he got the chance to be the starter once again, and he made the most of it.
Strange caught 11 of his 12 targets for 73 yards, which amounted to a third of receptions on the season and 22 percent of his receiving yards on the year. It was his high in targets, receptions, and yards against one of the tougher defenses in the NFL. Strange’s emergence as a safety blanket receiving option could be a big factor in 2025 for the Jaguars. Having 12 personnel, or two tight ends on the field, could lead to unique looks for the Jaguars offense in 2025.
His involvement in the offense in the game was a good look at the potential flexibility of the receiving game for 2025. If he continues to make his mark as a receiving threat in the last three weeks of the season, Strange could be a much larger piece of the Jaguars offense in 2025.
A Rising Rookie Special Teamer From The Jaguars vs Jets Week 15
One of the most underrated positions in the NFL is the kicker. Having someone who can give the team three points despite the offense sputtering out on a drive can be the difference between a win and a loss. In recent years, the Jaguars have had multiple different kickers come in and out. Brandon McManus had a short stint in Jacksonville, and in 2024, the Jaguars turned to rookie Cam Little.
Little was one of the Jaguars’ draft picks, selected in the sixth round, and has become one of the most important pieces for the Jaguars’ future success. Plenty of rookie kickers have fizzled out, but Little has proven the sixth-round selection worthwhile. In the Jaguars vs Jets week 15 game, Little hit all four of his field goals and one extra point. Little hit 28 and 23-yard field goals in the first half and then hit two 43-yard field goals in the second half.
Little’s consistency against the Jets kept the Jaguars in the game and has been one of the bright spots on a season marred with injuries and misfortune for Jacksonville. On the year, Little has made 22 of his 24 field goal attempts, missing from 43 yards out against the Cleveland Browns by hitting an upright and missing a 55-yard field goal against the Houston Texans wide right.
Other than those two misses, both in close games that could’ve changed the outcome of the game, Little has been very solid for the Jaguars. Being perfect on extra points and missing only two field goals all year, along with having the leg to hit from 59 yards out like he did against the Detroit Lions, means that the Jaguars have found their kicker of the future.
Takeaways
For the Jaguars, there are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic about the 2024 season. However, the three cornerstones from the Jaguars vs Jets week 15 matchup are why Jaguars fans can be optimistic about the 2025 season. These three players are the tip of the iceberg for the Jaguars, with a slew of other players set to be major contributors in 2025.
Strange could help give new looks to the Jaguars offense in 2025, while Thomas could be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators for the rest of his career. Little is capable of being one of the best kickers in the NFL, as he has the leg to hit from 60 yards out, something very few kickers can do.
A lot of work needs to be done to get to postseason contention, including exploring some of the top head coaching candidates. But with Little extending the range of scoring drives, Strange providing needed depth to a top-heavy offense, and Thomas ascending into superstardom, the Jaguars have a lot to look forward to with these three cornerstones in 2025.
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