![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) hauls in a reception against New York Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) during the third quarter of a NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_1404,y_121,w_2890,h_1625/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01kt70g3h34h650tswqk.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) hauls in a reception against New York Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) during the third quarter of a NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Despite trade speculation that dates back to 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars are committed to keeping Brian Thomas Jr. around. Heck, head coach Liam Coen even said that he wants the third-year wideout to be a big part of the offense next season. However, the noise hasn't fully died down.
When the A.J. Brown trade was consummated, it seemed like Thomas would no longer be at the center of trade chatter, but an NFL analyst just brougth him up on a list of blockbuster proposals.
The Jaguars are being urged to trade Brian Thomas Jr. to the Commanders
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report drew up a list of five wild pitches following the head-turning Myles Garrett trade to the Los Angeles Rams. He proposes the Jaguars send Brian Thomas Jr. to the Washington Commanders in return for first and sixth-round picks, arguing that they could afford to move him due to the presence of Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Travis Hunter.
"BTJ may be rendered expendable due to the presence of Meyers and fellow incumbent Parker Washington, along with the return of two-way star Travis Hunter and the addition of two rookie sixth-rounders in Josh Cameron and CJ Williams," Kay wrote. "The receiving corps is crowded heading into training camp, a logjam the Jags could loosen by dealing Thomas."
Kay believes Washington would be a fit for Thomas because third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels needs a true No. 1 receiver.
"The most sensible suitor for Thomas would be a team on the rise that could pair BTJ with a young signal-caller and develop the duo together. The Washington Commanders should be interested, as the move would provide Jayden Daniels with a big target with WR1 upside," Kay wrote.
Just before A.J. Brown landed with the New England Patriots, it was reported that the Jags could include Thomas in a package to acquire the three-time Pro Bowl receiver from the Philadelphia Eagles. Similarly, teams reportedly inquired about Thomas in the 2025 deadline, but he remains in Duval.
Circling back to B/R's proposal, it's not necessarily dreadful. The Jaguars could use the first-round pick they would get to bolster the interior defensive line, which remains a question mark even after the NFL Draft. The Commanders, for their part, would get a vertical threat that could open up their offense.
That said, this trade probably benefits the Commanders more, as Thomas is still on his rookie deal, with cap hits of $3.9 million and $4.6 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Why would the Jags give away an important piece of the puzzle when his salary is cap friendly?
Sure, Thomas is coming off a disappointing season in which he hauled in "just" 48 receptions for 707 yards with two touchdowns, but he managed to finish strong once the coaching staff tweaked his role. Couple that with the fact that the Walker, Louisiana native has been putting in the work to bounce back next season, and it's hard to see Jacksonville moving on from him any time soon.
Brian Thomas Jr. will be an important piece of the Jaguars offense
You should always expect the unexpected in the NFL, but barring anything unexpected, Brian Thomas Jr. will remain with the Jaguars for the foreseeable future. While he probably won't lead the team in receiving yards again next season, he's still an important part of the offense.
Liam Coen wants Parker Washington to get deep more often in 2026, but Thomas is Jacksonville's only true deep threat. Without him, opposing teams may be able to contain the Jags offense. Granted, the 2024 first-round pick has his work cut out. Specifically, he needs to do a better job of running routes in the middle of the field and cutting down the drops. But if he improves in those areas, he'll be hard to stop next year.
Maybe Brian Thomas Jr. is just ready to join Justin Jefferson and J'Marr Chase in the top echelon of NFL wide receivers, but he's still a pretty good player, and if he can recapture his rookie form, the Jaguars won't entertain the thought of trading him.
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