JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parker Washington has seen the contract numbers for receivers across the league and smiles.
Washington knows that he’s in line to join some of those wideouts who are getting paid.
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Now in his fourth year, Washington has been one of the best draft picks by ex-general manager Trent Baalke. He played sparingly as a rookie in 2023 but started seven games in his second season. Last year, Washington became Trevor Lawrence’s No. 1 target and turned in a career year. It may sound odd that a sixth-round pick was more dependable than first-rounders (Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter) and second-rounder Brenton Strange.
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Thomas struggled with injuries and inconsistencies. Hunter was lost for the year after Week 7 with a knee injury. And Strange missed a chunk of the year on injured reserve. Fellow receiver Jakobi Meyers added stability after coming over in a deal at the trade deadline.
Washington’s steady play not only endeared him to Jacksonville fans, but it gave him a spot as Lawrence’s top receiver. He picked the ideal season to emerge. This is the final year of Washington’s contract.
“That’s not my focus. I mean yes, it’s there and it’s a conversation, but my focus is just coming out here and I need to make plays for Trevor. So that’s my mindset, and that’s how I’m going to attack it. I’m not going to step on my agent’s toes. They can have those conversations. I’m just going to come out here and do my job.
Baltimore’s Zay Flowers was the latest receiver to sign a massive extension, agreeing to a four-year, $140 million deal this week. Flowers had 86 catches for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns last season, his third in the league. Washington had 58 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns in his third season. Flowers started 17 games last season and Washington started just seven. His production has nearly doubled in all categories each of his three seasons (16 catches to 32 to 58; 132 yards to 390 to 847).
“I mean, I be excited for guys. And like I said, the receiver market is a little crazy. And you see guys getting their opportunities and getting paid,” Washington said. “I mean, that’s cool. But like I said, for me, I just want to go out here and be my best self and just attack it.”
QB tracker:
Trevor Lawrence: 12 for 14.
Nick Mullens: 3 for 9.
Carter Bradley: 0 for 1.
Joey Aguilar: 3 for 5, INT (Preston Hodge).
RB tracker:
Bhayshul Tuten: Two carries, both with Trevor Lawrence.
Chris Rodriguez: Four carries, all with Lawrence.
LeQuint Allen: Two carries, both with Lawrence.
Ameer Abdullah: Three carries, all with Nick Mullens.
DeeJay Dallas: Four carries, all with Nick Mullens.
J’Mari Taylor: Five carries. Two with Mullens. Two with Bradley. One with Joey Aguilar.
Notebook
- Emmanuel Pregnon left practice with the trainers and did not return.
- It was a good day for Trevor Lawrence. He made some nice throws and found his rhythm again with Parker Washington after a few practices where their duo seemed just a step off.
- Anton Harrison said playing left tackle is “like riding a bike.” Harrison says he changed his diet and shed some of the “baby fat” this offseason and feels the best he has going into a season. The Jags staff will say it’s all a competition, but I’ll tell you right now, Anton will be the Jags left tackle this season.
- Zach Durfee continues to feast. He put a nasty move on Walker Little and would have hit Lawrence hard. Durfee is one of the young players that day in and day out keeps making plays.
- Durfee is one of the guys that Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell spotlighted that are kicking in door day in and day out about special teams opportunities. The other guys that he spotlighted are Josh Cameron and Bryan Thomas Jr. That’s interesting because Bryan isn’t a guy that anyone has talked much about, but if he can make his mark on special teams, he can find his way onto the roster.
- Farwell said that Parker Washington wants to be the Jags punt returner.
- For Cameron, getting the shoutout from Farwell is just another feather in his cap. Farwell also said that Cameron is in the running to be one of the Jags kick returners. It’s not just special teams for him. He made another great catch on the field on Thursday. Cameron has been a consistent performer throughout camp and is a lock for the roster and has some really star potential.
- Jalen Huskey dropped an INT. For Huskey, that is a good sign; his calling card in college was getting his hands on the football.
- Antonio Johnson was all over the field. He is in for a big season for the Jags; he might quietly be the most important player on the Jags D because there is no one else that can do what he does.
- Jabar Muhammad had a nice PBU in coverage against Brian Thomas Jr.
- CJ Williams had what would have been the play of the day. He got loose deep, but he couldn’t haul it in. Jarrian Jones was in coverage; I couldn’t tell if he got a hand in there or if Williams dropped it.
- Chris Rodriguez has some lethal footwork. C-Rod is going to be tough to keep off the field. He has looked good in the short glimpses we have seen of him so far.