The Jacksonville Jaguars may not be shopping Brian Thomas Jr. at the 2026 NFL trade deadline, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation from building around the second-year receiver.
Thomas was a 1st-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and the Jaguars’ stance is that he is not someone they’re actively trying to move. Still, his absence in the second half of Jacksonville’s Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans has only fueled the idea that a deal could eventually happen if the right offer lands on the table.
If that door opens, three teams stand out as the ones that need him most.
The Kansas City Chiefs sit at the top of the list. They need Thomas’ vertical speed and downfield ability as much as anyone in the league, but this is also the kind of move Jacksonville would have to think hard about.
Why would the Jaguars help out a fellow AFC contender? Even with a 1st-round pick potentially in play, it’s hard to imagine James Gladstone doing Kansas City any favors.
Then again, if Jacksonville gets serious about moving Thomas and the market gets thin, this is the kind of trade that can’t be ruled out entirely. After injuries to Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice, the Chiefs have a real need.
The San Francisco 49ers are another logical fit, and their injury situation makes the case easy to see. They’ve been hit all over the roster, but the wide receiver room has taken a particularly hard punch.
Mike Evans has emerged as their clear WR1 this season, but he’s dealing with both an Achilles injury and a rib injury while playing through the pain. If the 49ers decide they need help, Thomas would be one of the most obvious names to target.
And in this case, Jacksonville would have a chance to send him out of the conference entirely.
Then there’s Atlanta. The Falcons aren’t getting nearly as much attention as some of the other teams in this conversation, but their offense has looked much sharper over the past month after a slow start.
Kyle Pitts has done solid work as a secondary option, but Atlanta still needs a true WR2 to ease the burden on Drake London. Thomas would fit that need and would also give the Jaguars another chance to move him to an NFC team with division-title ambitions.
In Other News...
Maason Smith Is Making The Falcons Look Smart Fast
When Ian Cunningham made his first offseason move as Atlantas general manager, the swap sent Ruke Orhorhoro to Jacksonville and brought Maason Smith into the Falcons front. It was the kind of trade that needed time to sort itself out, but Smith has wasted little of it, giving Atlanta a noticeable boost inside as the season has unfolded.
His impact has been especially visible in pass rush, where he entered Week 7 leading all defensive tackles in win rate and then backed it up in the Falcons win over the 49ers. After the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski singled out Smiths work, another sign that the Falcons may have found more value in that deal than anyone could have expected this quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Penix Just Gave Falcons Fans A Reason To Believe
Michael Penix Jr. gave the Falcons a much-needed jolt on Sunday, guiding Atlanta to a 29-20 upset of the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers. The rookie quarterback looked composed throughout the win, helping a team sitting at 2-4 find at least a little footing against one of the leagues toughest early-season opponents.
Jessie Bates III was quick to point to Penixs performance as a reason for optimism, even with the record still leaving plenty of work ahead. The Falcons now turn to their next test against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 1, and for a team still searching for consistency, the bigger question is whether this kind of showing can become the norm rather than the exception. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Saw Why The 49ers' Next Wave Matters
The 49ers used the bye week to get healthier, and that matters for any opponent keeping tabs on their late-season shape. Kyle Shanahan said several injured players are on track to have a chance to return for San Franciscos next game, which comes against the Raiders after the break, a sign that the roster could look a lot different when the team comes back to work.
Upton Stout was active only for emergency purposes on Sunday, but he could be back in the mix soon as well, adding another layer to a group that may be getting reinforcements at multiple spots. Even with the kicking situation drawing attention around Eddy Pineiro, Shanahan indicated there are no plans to make a change there, so the focus remains on what this healthier version of the 49ers might look like once the bye week ends. [Read more 🡒]