First off, congrats again to Jakobi Meyers. But instead of celebrating a true grinder's path to his second big payday, talking heads around the sport decided to analyze how the receiver's personal accomplishment would affect Travis Hunter's and Brian Thomas' development with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Some writers claimed that Meyers' extension made the trade for Hunter look terrible in hindsight. In all fairness, there are reasons to criticize James Gladstone's long-term plan for the two-way star's development, but none of those reasons should punish the young general manager for addressing an area of weakness with an immediate veteran improvement.
At the same time, we have to acknowledge that the NFL is a hard salary cap league. Meyers' 3-year, $60 million deal includes $40 million in guaranteed money. Being conservative, the former Raider's deal is worth at least $13.33 million per year with no funny business.
CBS Sports' assessment of the wide receiver market before this season shows that this figure is about where a high-impact receiver's yearly pay should fall.
If Hunter becomes the unicorn we all hope he can be, he'll command a payday that's just as unprecedented. Before that, the Jaguars will have to figure out what to do with linebacker Devin Lloyd, edge rusher Travon Walker, and running back Travis Etienne. Combine that with the franchise's $20.5 million in projected cap space going into 2026, and oh, boy, do we have a problem.
The Jaguars would require sacrifices to keep Brian Thomas Jr. around
Next season, BTJ will be heading into his third-year in the league. That means he'll be eligible for an extension to his rookie contract after the 2026 season ends. That would impact the 2027 cap, which appears to be healthy at $126.8 million, but this figure assumes Etienne, Walker, Lloyd, Anton Harrison, and Greg Newsome aren't on the team.
If we go full homer for a second, Jacksonville would have to pay an EDGE, all-pro caliber off-ball linebacker, man corner, star running back, and starting right tackle at the same time. Wait, I forgot! Brenton Strange was drafted in the same class as Harrison, so get ready to pay him a competitive contract, too.
The Jaguars' past inability to retain homegrown players is consistently discussed within the team's fan base. However, the NFL cherishes competitive balance and uses the salary cap to promote parity as much as possible.
The Kansas City Chiefs created a contemporary dynasty during Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes' legendary partnership, but the financial costs have finally come due. With Travis Kelce retiring, Chris Jones carrying an entire defensive line by himself, and a catastrophic injury that occurred in the same game they were eliminated from the playoffs, the Chiefs have a lot of soul-searching to do.
Obviously, the entire city of Jacksonville, Shad Khan, and that one pub in London would pay any price to see a Super Bowl victory within Liam Coen's first contract, but there are financial realities the team has to consider in the meantime.
Is 2026 Brian Thomas' last season in Jacksonville?
If the Jaguars get a credible offer for BTJ, he might not even make it to the 2026 season. Before the trade deadline, a second-round pick and rotational players were floated as the price teams were willing to pay for Thomas' services. That ain't good enough.
A first-round pick that helps James Gladstone get back into the dance would be the compensation needed for the front office to make a move this offseason. Also, if the former LSU Tiger gets hot and plays like he did during his rookie season, the Jaguars could opt to let him play out his entire contract and see how things look in 2028. We can't forget that the fifth-year option for former first-round picks and the franchise tag are tools the Jacksonville could use as well.
In short, Jakobi Meyers' extension doesn't signify the end of BTJ's time in Duval County. If anything, it sets the expectation moving forward for both sides.
If Thomas contributes at a high level, then he will be rewarded. Likewise, Gladstone should know the minimum bid he'd need to make for a premier deep threat if the former first-rounder delivers on his end. That's actually a great spot to be in if you're about to make the run of a lifetime.