Even though Brian Thomas Jr. was at the center of trade chatter early in 2026, the Jacksonville Jaguars stated that they weren't moving him, going as far as saying that any suggestion to the contrary was outright fraudulent. Their stance made sense because No. 7 had an electrifying rookie campaign, and it was fair to assume that he could bounce back from his underwhelming 2025 campaign.
For a hot minute in training camp, it seemed like Thomas was getting back on track, showing notable improvement in his route-running and his connection with Trevor Lawrence. However, his progress was short-lived. Once the regular season started, though, he once again struggled, logging two costly drops in the loss to the Denver Broncos.
Not surprisingly, Thomas had a reduced role in the Week 3 win over the New England Patriots, registering just one reception for eight yards on 23 offensive snaps. While head coach Liam Coen has made it clear that he 100 percent expects the 2024 first-round pick to contribute, other teams have been keeping tabs on him and could make a push for him ahead of the trade deadline.
The Jaguars may have no shortage of suitors if they put Brian Thomas Jr. on the trade block
Dan Graizano of ESPN believes that teams will continue to monitor Brian Thomas Jr. ahead of the deadline, noting that the Jags aren't interested in trading him and haven't seemingly changed their stance.
"Teams are curious to see what if, anything, the Jaguars plan to do with 2024 first-round wide receiver Brian Tomas Jr.," Graziano wrote in his Week 4 column. "This has been the case since the offseason, though the Jaguars were telling teams then that they weren't interested in moving Thomas. That may continue to be the case."
Havings, Graziano believes clubs will continue to check in on Thomas, adding that it may take a strong offer to get a trade done.
"So other teams will continue to inquire about Thomas, who's perceived as a No. 1 wide receiver talent but might not be a great fit with Lawrence's strenghts. I think it would take a strong offer to get the Jags to move Thomas, but he's another name worth watching in the coming weeks ahead of what could be a very interesting trade deadline at the WR position," Graziano said.
Just to be clear, though, the Jaguars aren't open to trading Thomas, based on Graziano's scoop. Moreover, his stock may be at an all-time low following his minimal playing time in the win over the Patriots and his drops one week prior.
Conversely, teams could still be intrigued by what they saw from Thomas in 2024 when he hauled in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns. So don't be surprised if someone makes an offer that's compelling enough to force Jacksonville to part ways with the Walker, Louisiana native.
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The Jaguars are better off moving on from Brian Thomas Jr.
Liam Coen says that Brian Thomas Jr.'s playing time isn't indicative of his impact on the team, but if that were the case, he wouldn't be taken off the field to pave the way for rookie Josh Cameron or blocking tight end. Anyway, the Jaguars could easily hold onto Thomas for the remainder of the year and even next year because his rookie contract runs through 2027. But if another team is willing to give up a third that turns into a conditional second, that's simply too good an offer to pass on.
Moreover, Jacksonville has more than adequate depth to overcome his potential departure. Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers are the top receivers on the depth chart. Tight end Brenton Strange is also an important part of the offense, and either Cameron or fellow rookie CJ Williams could have an expanded role on offense.
Simply put, there's going to be a point at which it simply makes more sense for the Jaguars to trade Brian Thomas Jr. rather than holding onto him. They have already decreased his snap count. Next, it may be a matter of time before the team's brass decide that getting a draft pick for him is the best course of action.
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