The Jacksonville Jaguars turned heads when it was reported that they were actively taking calls about Brian Thomas Jr. The news wasn't surprising when you take into account that the sophomore wide receiver has struggled with drops this season.
On the other hand, Thomas did take the league by storm as a rookie, and moving on from him would be a tad puzzling. That's probably why an NFL analyst thinks the whole thing will turn out to be too much ado about nothing.
Brian Thomas Jr. is predicted to stay with the Jaguars
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report took a look at some trade candidates ahead of the November 4 deadline and made predictions for all of them. Regarding Brian Thomas Jr., he projects he'll stay with the Jaguars, noting that he may not be a fit in Liam Coen's scheme, but teams don't give up on talented players.
"Teams don't usually get rid of good young receivers only a year after drafting them, but it's fair to wonder if Thomas is simply a poor fit for Liam Coen's offense," Knox wrote. "A substantial picks package and/or a top-tier defensive starter might be enough for Jacksonville to move off of Thomas and make Travis Hunter their go-to receiver."
Knox continued, "Given Thomas' current slump, though, such an offer feels unlikely... Prediction: Thomas stays in Jacksonville through the trade deadline."
Thomas hasn't been able to build off of his rookie success. After hauling in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns last year, he's caught 27 passes for 365 yards with one touchdown. At this pace, he won't reach the 900-yard mark and finish with three touchdowns. That's certainly not the kind of production the new regime expected from its WR1. This begs the question, what's the reason behind his struggles?
The most reasonable explanation is that Thomas is not a fit in the Jacksonville offense. He thrives in vertical routes and in-brakers but has a hard time operating in the middle catching footballs in traffic. Another theory that's making the rounds on social media is that the former LSU Tiger is mourning close friend Kyren Lacy.
Injuries have also been brought up as an explanation for his underwhelming performance, but regardless of the reason, it's clear Thomas hasn't lived up to expectations in Year 2.
Why the Jaguars probably won't trade Brian Thomas Jr.
There are several teams that wouldn't hesitate to trade for Brian Thomas Jr., and rightly so. Even though he's underachieved, he's still the same talented player who went 23rd overall in the 2024 draft. Coaches would line up to get the opportunity to get him going once again, which is why the Jaguars may be hesitant to part ways with him right now.
It's important to point out that Jacksonville hasn't been afraid to trade or release players that don't fit its vision (cornerback Tyson Campbell, running back Tank Bigsby), but none of them were nearly as talented as Thomas. Couple that with the fact that he's still in his rookie deal, and it's hard to see the Jags trading him at the NFL deadline.
After all, progress isn't linear, and the BYE week could allow Thomas and the coaching staff to work on whatever is holding him back. Sure, the prospect of getting a high draft pick or proven contributor may be too good to pass up, but it's still too early to throw in the towel.
Now, you can never say never when it comes to the Jaguars trading Thomas, and as of this writing, there's still more than a week left before the trade deadline. That said, he still has time to put it all together, so the Jaguars are better off keeping him around for the foreseeable future.