Jaguars have the perfect fallback for Patriots if they fail to land AJ Brown

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't in the best spot right now. The team is still over the salary cap even after restructuring Patrick Mekari's deal. Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd are slated to hit the open market, and James Gladstone doesn't have a first-round pick to work with as he prepares for the upcoming draft.

Of course, there are some positives to consider, as Anthony Campanile's connections could help the Jags overcome Lloyd's departure. You see, backup plans are a necessity in the National Football League. Injuries happen, draft picks bust out, and, sometimes, a team charges you so much to trade for a player that you just can't make a deal.

The last calamity is what the New England Patriots are dealing with, as it's no secret that they want wide receiver AJ Brown to spice up their receiving core. However, the Pats' inability to keep a secret has given the Philadelphia Eagles all the ammunition they need to keep the ball and Brown's services in their court.

Luckily for New England, the Jaguars have an intriguing asset for Eliot Wolf to pursue if the Eagles won't budge.

Brian Thomas Jr. could solve the Patriots' problems and help the Jaguars

As we've covered before, Brian Thomas Jr. has been mentioned in trade rumors for weeks now. Few people have enough access to the guys in charge to confirm if BTJ is really on the trading block, but almost any player in the NFL could be had at the right price these days.

In a shocking turn of events, the Buffalo Bills traded a second-round pick to the Chicago Bears for DJ Moore. The transaction was so surprising because A) Moore's base salary for the next two years is $23.5 million, and B) the former Bear hasn't gained 1,000 receiving yards since 2023. With the 28-year-old pro off the board, the Patriots have one less backup plan to rely on if the Eagles' asking price remains too rich for their blood.

According to Evan Sidery's tweet, Philadelphia isn't necessarily shopping their star wide receiver. Instead, the franchise is making it clear that they'll only say goodbye if they get an offer they can't refuse.

A first- and second-round pick for a wideout who's turning 29 in June is a bit steep, especially if you're a team that's preparing to pay a rising superstar at the quarterback position in the next year or two. Drake Maye's rapid development under Mike Vrabel should be an incentive to get a guy like Brown in the building. However, the Patriots' favorable cap situation could worsen in a hurry if they land the former Titan and he outperforms the rest of his current deal.

In contrast, Brian Thomas Jr. is still on his rookie contract and has a fifth-year option New England could claim since he was drafted in the first round. That would give the Patriots the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons to enjoy BTJ's services before needing to make the final call.

If you ask me, Jacksonville and New England would be square if the latter offered a first-round pick for the LSU alum and called it a day. I wouldn't even be mad if Gladstone threw in a Day 3 pick to make sure he lands a first-rounder.

For some reason, Thomas and Trevor Lawrence haven't been able to develop a connection with each other on the field. Jakobi Meyers' season-saving performance after joining the team mid-season proved that Lawrence knows how to get the ball to a talented playmaker. Also, Parker Washington's surprising performances while filling in for his teammates showed that he's more than a punt returner. Of course, two pass catchers aren't enough to fill an entire receiver room, but it feels like BTJ would benefit from a fresh start and a clean slate.

If the Patriots want to make it out of free agency with an explosive deep threat on their roster, they should be the organization that gives Thomas a shot to recalibrate himself and his career. If they don't, the Eagles' lack of urgency will force them to enter the draft with a glaring need.