When general manager James Gladstone made it clear that the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't trading Brian Thomas Jr., that should have been the end of it. It wasn't, nor will it be any time soon, and understandably so.
Thomas is coming off an underwhelming season. Couple that with the arrival of Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington's ascension, and it's easy to see why the 2024 first-round pick has been the subject of trade chatter.
Heck, even after Gladstone called any rumors involving Thomas fraudulent, John Kosko of Pro Football Focus called him Jacksonville's most valuable trade asset.
PFF named Brian Thomas Jr. the most valuable trade asset for the Jaguars
After the initial free agency spending, John Kosko named every team's biggest trade chip. For the Jaguars, he chose Brian Thomas Jr., noting that he could be on his way out after an unremarkable sophomore year. Here's the skinny.
"A popular name in trade discussions this offseason, Thomas appears to have fallen out of favor in Jacksonville following a down sophomore campaign," Kosko wrote. "He was arguably the second-best rookie wide receiver in 2024 and looked like a budding star, especially with a new coaching staff in place."
"If reports of the Jaguars exploring a move are accurate, Thomas is not far removed from that strong rookie season, which should still allow Jacksonville to command significant value in a potential trade."
In regard to the reports that the Jags are entertaining the idea of moving Thomas, Kosko may be talking about Connor Hughes of SNYtv, who claims that they resumed conversations with the New York Giants after engaging in trade talks at the 2025 deadline.
Since then, Adam Schefter of ESPN has emphatically denied that Jacksonville is shopping Thomas. Not long after, Gladstone let everyone know where the team stands on the former LSU Tiger.
Why the Jaguars aren't trading Brian Thomas Jr.
Following the signing of Jake Bobo to an offer sheet, the Jaguars have one of the most well-rounded wide receiver corps in the NFL. With Bobo, Travis Hunter, Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers in the mix, it looks like Jacksonville could afford to trade Brian Thomas Jr. Having said that, there are plenty of reasons why he won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
For starters, it was only two years ago when Thomas took the NFL by storm, hauling in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns. Sure, he's coming off a somewhat disappointing season, but there's a chance he'll bounce back in his second season in Liam Coen's system. Moreover, the Walker, Louisiana native is scheduled to have cap hits of $3.9 million and $4.6 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Why would the Jags want to move on from a playmaker who's on an affordable deal?
Last but not least, Washington is entering a contract year, and he's not the player the Jags need to re-sign. Travon Walker, Brenton Strange, and maybe even Ventrell Miller are candidates for extensions. The team's brass won't be able to bring all of them back. In case Washington leaves, having Thomas around will soften the blow of his departure.
When you add it all up, it makes sense for the Jaguars to keep Brian Thomas Jr. around. Maybe if another team made an offer they could refuse, they might consider it. Until then, expect Thomas to wear the Black & Teal for the foreseeable future.