Although the Jacksonville Jaguars have been reluctant to trade Brian Thomas Jr., they may have changed their stance after benching him in the second half of the Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. If this had been the first time the 2024 first-round pick had struggled with drops, the Jags wouldn't have taken such a drastic measure, but it's been a recurring issue dating back to last year.
Given that the Jags have shown plenty of patience, but Thomas hasn't been able to get back on track, trading him may be the best course of action. If he's available, he will have no shortage of suitors. In fact, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN stated that several teams expect Jacksonville to trade the former LSU Tiger.
One club, in particular, could be an intriguing landing spot for Thomas for a couple reasons, one bigger than the other.
Malik Nabers makes the Giants a viable landing spot for Brian Thomas Jr.
Jeremy Fowler says the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers could make a push for Brian Thomas Jr. Both teams have been linked to him, as they're in need of help at receiver. The Washington Commanders would also make sense because of Jaylen Daniels, his quarterback at LSU.
But the Commanders aren't the only team with a Tigers connection that could target Thomas. Malik Nabers plays for the New York Giants. Both of them were teammates at LSU and were first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Playing next to a familiar face may be just what Thomas needs to get his NFL career going, but Nabers isn't the only reason New York could be a landing spot for him. Chad Hall is the G-Men's receivers coach, and he was Thomas' position coach as a rookie, when he hauled in 82 catches for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Precisely because Hall was able to get the most out of Thomas once, he could help him enjoy a career revival in the Big Apple.
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The Giants could enter a bidding war to trade for Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Aside from the teams mentioned before, the Los Angeles Rams, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the San Francisco 49ers could also be in the market for receiver help. Most of them are in the thick of the playoff race and could trade for Brian Thomas Jr. to increase their odds of qualifying for the postseason.
Some of those clubs, like the Commanders and New York, may have a bit of an edge because of Thomas' past connections, but Jacksonville would most likely send him to whoever makes the highest possible bid. And that's the thing, the Jaguars trusted Thomas, but he wasn't able to come through. They don't have an obligation to find the best possible destination for him and need to instead get the best possible value for him.
In the end, it's hard to tell where Brian Thomas Jr. will end up at the trade deadline, but it's highly unlikely that he'll remain with the Jaguars based on how things have played out.
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