Let's draft two! Jaguars double up on LSU stars by selecting WR Thomas Jr. and DT Smith early

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Brian Thomas Jr. and Maason Smith won’t have to search very hard to find a familiar face in Jacksonville.

The former LSU teammates are reuniting 600 miles east of Baton Rouge after the Jaguars selected them in consecutive rounds of the NFL draft, receiver Thomas in the first (23rd overall) and defensive tackle Smith in the second (No. 48).

It was the third time in franchise history — second in four years — that Jacksonville chose college teammates in the opening two rounds.

“Just being able to be around him is definitely going to make my transition a little bit easier knowing that I got a brother with me already,” Smith said.

The previous combinations worked out about as well as anyone could have expected: tight end Marcedes Lewis and running back Maurice Jones-Drew reunited in 2006 after playing together at UCLA; and quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne in 2021 after starring at Clemson.