After decisively beating the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night, all eyes will be on the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the November 10 deadline. Not only will general manager James Gladstone be looking for help at defensive tackle, but other teams will be paying attention to whether Jacksonville makes Brian Thomas Jr. available.
While the Jags have stated countless times that they're not moving Thomas, other teams across the NFL believe that he'll ultimately be dealt at the deadline. However, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated may've dashed the hopes of any clubs that are interested in him.
The Jaguars weren't inclined to trade Brian Thomas jr. despite the Chiefs' interest
Albert Breer posted what he's hearing ahead of the deadline and wrote that the Kansas City Chiefs had zeroed in on Brian Thomas Jr., but Jacksonville hasn't shown interest in trading him. Here's the skinny:
"Kansas City had interest in Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr., but the Jaguars have been less inclined to sell on the former first-rounder," Breer stated. "While he hasn't been statistically productive, and isn't the best fit for Liam Coen's scheme, Thomas brings a downfield element that's really important in keeping defenses honest against the run and opening things up underneath for Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington."
Breer makes a compelling point when he says that Thomas opens things up on offense. His deep-threat capabilities are feared across the league. That said, he's become an afterthought on the Jacksonville offense.
Although the 2024 first-round pick did have a touchdown reception in the win over the Indianapolis Colts, he's otherwise been a non-factor, logging a combined 63 offensive snaps the past three games. That's not the kind of usage you expect from what should be a key cog in the passing game.
When you factor in that the Jaguars can afford to trade Brian Thomas Jr. because of Josh Cameron's ascension and the presence of two-way star Travis Hunter, it's possible that they're just trying to drive up his price.
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The Jaguars are keeping their Brian Thomas Jr. plans close to the vest
Now, one thing is to show interest, and another is to actually act on it. This is a long-winded way of saying that maybe Kansas City's offer wasn't good enough for James Gladstone to actually consider a deal. But maybe if the Chiefs offer something better, Thomas could indeed be had.
It's also worth noting that Kansas City is far from the only team that could make a push for Thomas. Because of his connections to former teammate Malik Nabers and Jayden Daniels, the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders, respectively, could be legitimate landing spots for the former LSU Tiger. The San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams are other NFC clubs that could make the push for him.
And if the Jacksonville didn't mind moving Thomas in the AFC, the Las Vegas Raiders could be a realistic destination for him. In the end, though, it would come down to who makes the best bid. If the Jags do trade Brian Thomas Jr., it will be because they believe he can't bounce back, and if that's the case, it won't matter where they send him.
Still, it's hard to tell what the Jaguars plan to do with Brian Thomas Jr., which truly makes it a storyline to keep an eye on with the trade deadline inching closer.
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