When the NFL released its annual Top 100 Players list for 2025, two Jacksonville Jaguars stood out among football’s elite: edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen at No. 63 and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 61.
Let’s break down why they each deserve their spot, and why their rise says something even bigger about what’s going to happen next for the Jaguars.
Josh Hines-Allen
GettyJosh Hines-Allen’s Message to the Locker Room Wasn’t Just About the Top 100
He’s not new to this list, and that says something in itself. Josh Hines-Allen is making his second straight appearance on the NFL Top 100. And his No. 63 ranking cements him as one of the league’s most respected disruptors. In 2024, Hines-Allen recorded 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
According to NFL Pro Insight, Hines-Allen accounted for 26.2% of the Jaguars’ total QB pressures, the third-highest share in the entire NFL. His 67 pressures ranked ninth among all edge defenders.
And yet, he’s not satisfied. “Now, knowing where I’m at after last year, after a down year, it’s time to go back up,” Hines-Allen said during Jaguars training camp.
He’s not just pushing himself either, he’s issuing a challenge to the rest of the locker room. In his own words: “It’s time for Tray [Walker] to get in there. It’s time for Jourdan Lewis. It’s time for Foye. We have guys that can rack that list up.”
That leadership comes at a critical time. After a coaching shakeup on the defensive side, Hines-Allen is positioned to be the tone-setter for a unit with top-10 aspirations. And the former franchise sack leader is aiming to raise the bar for everyone around him.
Brian Thomas Jr.
GettySix Spots Ahead of Malik Nabers
The Jaguars’ 2024 first-round pick shattered expectations.
Thomas was one of only two rookie wide receivers to be named to the 2025 Top 100. Landing at No. 61, Thomas finished six spots ahead of fellow rookie standout and former college teammate Malik Nabers (No. 67), a move that upset a lot of people because it stakes Thomas Jr.’s claim as the most productive rookie receiver in the league.
The stats speaks for himself: 87 catches, 1,282 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns, all franchise rookie records. His 14.7 yards per catch ranked among the NFL’s best. And only two wideouts in the entire league had more receiving yards.
“He just goes and puts the work in and makes plays,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence said after the first training camp practice. “He’s kind of that silent assassin.”
Only four rookies in the Super Bowl era have posted 1,200+ yards and 10+ TDs according to StatMuse: Randy Moss, Odell Beckham Jr., Ja’Marr Chase… and now Brian Thomas Jr.
Even more exciting is that he’s about to be unleashed in Liam Coen’s new-look offense. Expect more slot reps, more layered route concepts, and more opportunities to attack mismatches all over the field, especially with Travis Hunter drawing coverage across from him.
Two Jaguars in the Top 100. More on the cusp. And a locker room that’s growing louder, tougher, and more confident by the day. As Liam Coen says it best, “Duuuval!”
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