In the aftermath of the NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars emerged as a potential destination for A.J. Brown. It didn't make sense because, as talented as the three-time Pro Bowler is, the Jags are stacked at receiver, and acquiring him would have required a substantial use of resources. In the end, though, it turned out to be nothing but offseason chatter.
After months of speculation and negotiations behind the scenes, Adam Schefter of ESPN broke the news that the New England Patriots reached out a deal to acquire A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a first-round pick in 2028 and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Indirectly, the deal benefits Brian Thomas Jr., who's also been at the center of trade rumors dating back to 2025.
Brian Thomas Jr. remains with the Jaguars for the foreseeable future
James Gladstone made it clear earlier this year that any rumors suggesting the Jaguars would trade Brian Thomas Jr. were fraudulent claims. However, there was speculation that Jacksonville could include the third-year wideout in a package to acquire A.J. Brown.
But even if the Jags hadn't traded Thomas for Brown, the former would have become expendable if the latter had landed in Duval. But now that he's with the Pats, the odds of Jackonville trading Thomas have decreased considerably. In fact, the top brass appears to be confident that the 2024 first-round selection can bounce back.
After Day 1 of Organized Team Activities, head coach Liam Coen heaped praise on Thomas, pointing out that he had been working on his connection with Trevor Lawrence. Moreover, the Walker, Louisiana native seemed to be all-in in practice.
Granted, there's still a long way to go, but it looks like Thomas is indeed turning the corner after a disappointing 2025 season.
Brian Thomas Jr. must now prove the Jaguars were right to keep him
If the Jaguars were serious about trading Brian Thomas Jr., they would have had no shortage of suitors. Granted, he's coming off a year in which he only hauled in 48 receptions for 707 yards with two touchdowns. However, No. 7 hauled in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns as recently as 2024. Couple that with the fact that he still has two years left on his rookie deal, and teams might have lined up to acquire him.
However, Jacksonville has shown unwavering support for Thomas throughout the offseason. Now, though, he must repay their trust. And so far, he's done a superb job.
Thomas made a strong impression on the first day of Organized Team Activities and once again stole the spotlight on Day 4, with John Shipley of Sports Illustrated pointing out that his performance was reminiscent of the joint practices against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024, when he caught the attention of both players and coaches alike.
While Brian Thomas Jr. will have to wait until the regular season to prove that he's back, his stock is soaring in light of the A.J. Brown trade, proving that the Jaguars were right to hold onto him.
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