Brian Thomas Jr.’s future in Jacksonville has become one of the more interesting subplots around the league, and it has other NFL teams paying close attention.
The Jaguars are 2-1 after three weeks and working under head coach Liam Coen, but the conversation around Thomas has shifted sharply. Once viewed as a superstar rookie receiver, he’s now described as a bona fide bust, and his slice of the offense has dropped significantly. That uncertainty is exactly why, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, clubs around the NFL are intrigued by the possibility of a midseason deal.
“Teams are curious to see what, if anything, the Jaguars plan to do with 2024 first-round pick wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.,” Graziano writes.
This isn’t the first time Thomas has come up in trade chatter. His name was already circulating over the offseason as a possible target for teams looking for receiver help.
Jacksonville’s current passing-game hierarchy adds more fuel to the speculation. Parker Washington has stepped into the No.
1 WR role, while Jakobi Meyers is clearly the second option. Travis Hunter is getting some work here and there, and Josh Cameron is also seeing meaningful opportunities.
With that in mind, it would not be a shock if Thomas were moved during the season.
The problem is that a deal would not come cheaply. Graziano noted that “it would take a strong offer to get the Jags to move Thomas...”
That asking price could be a tough sell for interested teams given Thomas’ rough stretch over the last two years. Still, there’s value in the contract situation: his rookie deal runs through the rest of the 2026 and 2027 seasons, and could stretch to 2028 if Jacksonville picks up the fifth-year option.
Teams in need of wide receiver help could be watching closely. The Las Vegas Raiders, a young and ascending team, might make sense as a fit. So could the San Francisco 49ers, who are dealing with extensive injury issues.
For now, the buzz is just that - buzz. But the fact that teams around the league are already showing preliminary interest means Thomas’ name is very much in play.
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