Even though Brian Thomas Jr. had a solid outing in the 22-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, he'll most likely remain the subject of trade chatter ahead of the deadline. Sure, the Jacksonville Jaguars have made it clear that they expect him to make plays in the near future but could afford to move him because they're stacked at receiver.
This doesn't mean that the Jags plan to trade Thomas, but teams are reportedly interested in him. Someone in desperate need of help at receiver could ultimately make general manager James Gladstone an offer he can't refuse.
And if Gladstone does pull the trigger, the last thing he'll want to do is trade Thomas to an AFC club, as there's a chance Jacksonville could face him down the road.
The Jaguars cannot afford to trade Brian Thomas Jr. within the AFC
Although the Jaguars' trust in Thomas hasn't fully wavered, he's no longer one of the top targets in the passing game. Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and tight end Brenton Strange have bigger roles, while rookie Josh Cameron is quickly carving out a niche on offense.
Given the Jags' surplus at receiver, they could afford to trade Thomas... but not to an AFC team. Think about it: Jacksonville is playing well enough that there's a strong chance it will make the playoffs. Coincidentally, some of the clubs that appear to be landing spots for the 2024 first-round pick reside in the same conference.
Dan Graziano of ESPN suggests Thomas could be a trade target for the Kansas City Chiefs, noting that Tyreek Hill may no longer be an option for them at this point of his career. Similarly, the Las Vegas Raiders could make a playoff push but need an X receiver, and they could give him the targets he won't get in Jacksonville. The New England Patriots could also use him, as they're in the midst of a funk and could use a spark.
Thomas could most definitely help these three teams, but why would the Jags send him to a team that will also be vying for a playoff spot in the AFC? Heck, the only way it would make sense to trade him within the conference is if they were made an offer they couldn't refuse. Let's say a second-rounder, which is unlikely since the third-year wideout's stock isn't particularly high at this moment.
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The Jaguars could trade Brian Thomas Jr. to a NFC teams in need of help at WR
If the Jaguars considered the possibility of trading Brian Thomas, the best course of action would be to send him to the NFC. The Los Angeles Rams need someone opposite Davante Adams, while the San Francisco 49ers are running out of healthy receivers. The Arizona Cardinals could also pull off a swap that included Marvin Harrison Jr.
Of course, Thomas still has value, and if the best offer Jacksonville gets is a fifth-rounder or anything of that sort, trading him doesn't make sense. His deep threat capabilities are still there, and he's still on his rookie team. Thus, keeping the former LSU Tiger around through 2027 as a depth piece makes more sense than exchanging him for a Day 3 draft selection.
The truth is that the Jags don't appear to be open to trading Brian Thomas Jr., but if they end up doing it, it has to be under the right circumstances.
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