The Jacksonville Jaguars stated that they weren't trading Brian Thomas Jr. even though he was coming off an underwhelming season because they saw him as an integral piece of their offensive puzzle. The decision made sense because Thomas already showed in 2024 that he can be a game-changer. If he gets back on track, he would give the Jags' passing game an element of verticality no other receiver on the roster could offer.
And for a moment, it looked like the former LSU Tiger was going to bounce back in 2026. He had a strong offseason and had seemingly put his drop issues behind him. But then, the regular season came, and Thomas' woes resurfaced. Specifically, he had two costly drops in the loss to the Broncos. Understandably, he had a diminished role against the New England Patriots in Week 3.
Moving forward, Thomas may need to gain the team's trust to once again have a featured role. There's a chance he will, but if he doesn't, trading him at the 2026 deadline shouldn't be ruled out. If the Jaguars shop him, he'll probably have no shortage of suitors. One team in particular could agree to a player-to-player swap.
The Jaguars could trade Brian Thomas Jr. in exchange for Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Brian Thomas Jr. were first-round draft picks in 2024. They entered the NFL with high expectations, and both of them have underperformed. Harrison has appeared in 37 games with 29 for the Arizona Cardinals, reeling in 107 receptions for 1,566 yards with 12 touchdowns. This season, though, he's only caught four passes for 73 yards and currently appears to be the fourth option in the Arizona passing game. His Jaguars counterpart isn't doing much better.
Thomas hauled in 82 passes for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns as a rookie but only caught 48 catches for 707 yards with two touchdowns last year. Like Harrison, he's failed to hit his stride this season, registering seven receptions for 87 yards in three games. Simply put, that's not the kind of production from what you believe is an integral piece of your offensive puzzle.
In Thomas' defense, Jacksonville likes to spread the ball. But even that isn't a justification when you take into account that teammates Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers have been way more productive. Similarly, rookie Josh Cameron has only caught three passes in his brief NFL career, and two of those have gone for touchdowns.
Heck, Cameron got as much playing time (23 offensive snaps) as Thomas in the Week 3 win over the New England Patriots. While head coach Liam Coen says that the team wasn't trying to send a message or that Cameron was simply better suited for what the Jags wanted to do, it's clear that Thomas is tumbling down the depth chart.
Again, there's a chance Thomas could bounce back, but if he doesn't, the Jaguars may have to reconsider their stance on him and trade him at the deadline. That's where Marvin Harrison Jr. comes in.
Like Thomas, Harrison is a highly talented receiver who may not be a fit for what his team is trying to do. Both of them could benefit from a change of scenery, and a player-for-player trade would accomplish that.
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Trading for Marvin Harrison Jr. woudl be a low risk, high reward move for the Jaguars
For the sake of transparency, NFL analyst Charles Robinson first floated the idea of trading Brian Thomas Jr. for Marvin Harrison Jr., citing a league executive who believes several 2024 first-round receivers are in the same situation as Harrison.
Robinson argues that both receivers are dealing with similar circumstances and both of them could benefit from a change of scenery. But more importantly, Thomas and Harrison are 2024 first-round picks, and as such, they'll need to have their fifth-year options picked up in May 2027.
Knowing that, let's say Jacksonville acquired Harrison. If he fails to pan out, the team's brass can decline his rookie option and allow him to hit the open market in 2028. Simply put, it would be a reclamation project that may not pan out but could also pay massive dividends.
The best part is that the Jags wouldn't have to give up any kind of draft assets for Harrison. Instead, they would part ways with a player who's quickly playing out of their plans.
Now, there are no reports that Jacksonville is interested in trading for Marvin Harrison. Heck, they have no shortage of options at receivers. Having said that, James Gladstone has previously stated that he's in the team-building business, and Harrison could most definitely turn out to be a darn good addition to the team with a fresh start in Duval.
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