Jaguars could gift LA Rams a WR spark with Brian Thomas Jr. trade

The Jacksonville Jaguars have shown confidence in Brian Thomas Jr. in spite of his struggles. However, their patience may be wearing thin, as they benched the 2024 first-round pick in the second half of the loss to the Houston Texans after he had a pair of drops.

Thomas' benching has reignited trade speculation. Nobody would bat an eye if Jacksonville made him available, given general manager James Gladstone's willingness to trade players who don't fit the team's vision. If No. 7 is indeed available before the deadline, he'll have no shortage of suitors, as several teams in both the NFC and the AFC are in need of receiver help.

The Washington Commanders most definitely make sense because of Thomas' LSU connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels. However, there's another club in the NFC that would make a push for him.

The Jaguars could trade Brian Thomas Jr. to the LA Rams in return for a 2nd-round pick

Like other teams that are dealing with injuries at receiver, Los Angeles would be a realistic landing spot for Brian Thomas Jr. While Puka Nacua is back in the fold after sitting out two contests with a groin and a core muscle injury, teammate Davante Adams will tentatively miss six to 10 games after sustaining a hamstring rupture. Brian Thomas Jr. would be a more than capable replacement, as Michel Haney at Ramblin Fan suggests. Here's the skinny.

"If Snead wants an 'X' receiver to directly replace Adams, Brian Thomas Jr. is the best option available," Haney wrote. "His role with the Jacksonville Jaguars has been reduced to that of a vertical threat, but as he showed in his rookie season, he can do more than he currently is."

Trading for Thomas would be a no-brainer for the Rams, without a doubt, but Hainey acknowledges that trading for Thomas won't come cheap, even though his production doesn't pop off the stat sheet. He thinks that the Jaguars wideout may be worth a second-round selection based on the deal the Houston Texans made with the Houston Texans to acquire Marvin Harrison JR.

"Thomas could be looking for a change of scenery after a downturn in targets since mid-2025. Using the Houston Texans' Marvin Harrison Jr. trade as a measuring stick, Thomas would likely cost a second-round pick. That may be too rich for a Rams team already missing its 2027 first-rounder," Haney said.

Not having a first-rounder next would be a legitimate roadblock to trading for Thomas Jr. Then again, general manager Les Snead hasn't been afraid to give up picks to acquire proven talent. He did it with cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and more recently with star pass rusher Myles Garrett.

A bigger issue would be whether the Rams think they can salvage their season. If they believe they can, Thomas could give their offense a spark. If not, it wouldn't make sense to part ways with future assets.

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Grade the pitch: The Jaguars send Brian Thomas Jr. to the LA Rams for a 2nd-round pick

If the Rams aren't interested in Brian Thomas Jr., other clubs could most definitely set their sights on him. While the Jaguars may not want to send him to an AFC team they'll have to compete with, they may be willing to do it if they meet their asking price. Given that the Card got a second in return for Marvin Harrison Jr., Jacksonville could at least get a second, maybe even a first if the demand is high enough.

In the NFC, the Washington Commanders and the San Francisco 49ers are other landing spots. In the AFC, the Jags could trade Thomas to the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs, or the Las Vegas Raiders.

Simply put, if the Jaguars decide to trade Brian Thomas Jr. (Dan Graziano of ESPN believes they will), they may end up sending him to the team that makes the biggest bid. That could make the Rams a long shot to acquire him, but they shouldn't be ruled out based on Les Snead's track record.

Grade: B+ (only because other teams may make a better offer)

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