With the trade deadline inching closer, the speculation that the Jacksonville Jaguars could make Brian Thomas Jr. available is reaching a fever pitch. Although the Jags have stated at different times that they're not interested in moving the 2024 first-round pick, it's hard to see him sticking around in Duval following his benching in the Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans.
Of course, Jacksonville could keep Thomas as depth, but the truth is that a fresh start may be the best course of action for everyone. This may be why several NFL clubs expect him to be available at the November 10 deadline.
Other NFL teams expect the Jaguars to trade Brian Thomas Jr.
ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler made an appearance on SportsCenter and stated that several teams expect Brian Thomas Jr. to be available at the trade deadline, noting that the Jags hoped that his ability to stretch the field would open things up for his teammates, but he's instead been a non-factor the past two weeks.
"Brian Thomas Jr., immensely talented, but I've talked to several teams who believe that he could be dealt over the next few weeks, Fowler told host Gary Striewski. "Jacksonville has relented in the past. They've kept him because he's such a big talent. They hoped that his deep threat would balance things out for their other receivers, but the last two weeks, no catches."
Fowler continued, "Yeah, had just 15 snaps. He was essentially benched in that London game against Houston. So something has to get done. There are going to be some interested parties. Kansas City's been looking around at potentially adding a receiver."
The Kansas City Chiefs would be an interesting fit, since Jacksonville would be sending Thomas to another AFC club that's vying for a playoff spot and the best possible seeding. Unless the Jags believe Thomas has no chance to get back on track, they might be hesitant to send the former LSU Tiger to a team they'll face later this year or to someone within the conference.
That said, a trade to Kansas City shouldn't be ruled out, especially if the Chiefs outbid other clubs and make an offer Jacksonville can't refuse. Either way, as Fowler notes, Thomas should have no shortage of suitors if he's available.
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The Jaguars need to trade Brian Thomas Jr. while he has value
You could make the case that the Jaguars won't get any good offers because Brian Thomas Jr. has been underwhelming this season, catching a measly nine catches for 105 yards with one touchdown on 20 targets. Heck, rookie Josh Cameron has gotten ahead of him on the depth chart. That's just how steep his fall from grace has been from his 82-catch, 1,282-yard rookie season.
Having said that, the Houston Texans just got a second-round selection in exchange for Marvin Harrison Jr., and Thomas has been more productive in the pros despite the fact that he was a lower first-round selection. When you factor in that several clubs could make a push for him, Jacksonville may be able to get a second, or at worst a third.
But even if the best offer the Jaguars got was a fourth, it doesn't make sense to keep Brian Thomas Jr. At this point, they're better off cutting their losses and giving other players more snaps on offense the rest of the way.
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