Julius Thomas primed for a second breakout season

Jacksonville Jaguars TE Julius Thomas is primed for another breakout season having had a year with Blake Bortles…

It’s the offseason, which means it’s time for Julius Thomas hype. From the day he stepped onto an NFL field with the Denver Broncos, analysts and media were gawking at his dominance against linebackers and smaller defensive backs.

It wasn’t until his 3rd NFL season in 2013 with the Broncos (and his 2nd year on the team with Peyton Manning) that Thomas finally figured things out and had a monster season. Part of Manning’s 55 touchdown year, he played in 14 games (a career high) and wound up scoring 12 touchdowns.

He was arguably more dominant the following year, scoring 12 touchdowns again in fewer games, playing a number of games not at 100 percent getting over an ankle injury that had been a major factor in his eventual departure from the Broncos.

In his first season with Jacksonville, it was the same story all over again. Thomas was dominating in practices but couldn’t keep himself healthy. He finished his first year in Jacksonville with — at least what I would consider — a disappointing five touchdowns.

Not everything is instant gratification in the NFL, but Thomas is paid a ton of money to produce. It was a slow year, in my estimation.

Now entering his second season with the Jaguars, I think Thomas is poised for a breakout season like he had in 2013 with the Broncos, and the major factor is quarterback Blake Bortles.

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The Jaguars didn’t win a ton of games last year, but Bortles took a huge step forward in his career. As he continues to get more comfortable in his own skin, getting the ball to Thomas is going to be a lot more natural, and having had a year of chemistry working together, Thomas and Bortles are primed to light it up in 2016.

With Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns making plays on the outside, Thomas is going to be getting plenty of favorable matchups, and I have no doubt he will take advantage. He’s simply too big, too athletic, too fast, and too good not to be putting up double digit touchdowns every season.

This year, I think we’ll see him return to the form we saw with the Denver Broncos, and it’ll translate to more wins for the Jaguars.