Brian Thomas Jr. may be sitting in the middle of a widening trade market, and two more teams have now entered the conversation.
The Jacksonville Jaguars appear headed in a clear direction with the third-year wideout, but the wider NFL picture keeps shifting. With the trade deadline still weeks away, Week 6 changed the receiver landscape in a hurry when the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders both took major hits at the position.
For the Rams, the situation got ugly fast. They’re 2-4, and the Super Bowl buzz from the offseason has faded into the background.
Over their final 11 games, they likely can’t afford more than about three losses if they want to stay on track. Then came another blow: Sean McVay said Davante Adams would be out for the next 6-to-10 weeks after a lower-body injury in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Adams has 30 catches for 480 yards and four touchdowns, and his 20.2% target share trails only Puka Nacua on the roster. With him sidelined, the Rams are looking at a receiver group that includes Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith. Outside of Nacua, that’s a thin room by any standard.
That’s where Thomas starts to make sense. He has battled drop issues across the last two seasons with Jacksonville, and a change of scenery could be the reset button.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, could turn that situation into draft capital. The Rams need a vertical threat to help the offense survive until Adams comes back, and Thomas would likely see a much bigger role in Los Angeles than he does in Jacksonville’s deeper receiver mix.
There are obvious questions about whether the Rams would actually pursue him. They already surrendered picks for Myles Garrett, and their staff has ties to a Jaguars group that has struggled to get Thomas on track. Even so, the need is real, and Thomas would give them another dangerous option next to Nacua for the long haul.
Washington has also suddenly become relevant in the Thomas market. Terry McLaurin was injured on Monday Night Football, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the injury is likely season-ending and will keep him out for the rest of the 2026 season. The Commanders are 1-4-1 and not exactly loaded with answers, but this one comes with a different kind of logic.
Dan Quinn could be on the way out, but Adam Peters may be able to stick around. If that’s the case, the easiest path for Peters to protect his future is tied to Jayden Daniels. If Daniels gets back to his rookie-year level, that helps the general manager who drafted him.
That’s why Thomas makes some sense in Washington, even if the Commanders may need their draft picks for a broader rebuild. Daniels and Thomas played together at LSU, and that familiarity could help Washington address a long-term need at receiver while also giving its quarterback a target he already knows.
If Jacksonville is ready to move Thomas, there should be no shortage of teams circling. The Rams and Commanders are just the latest to surface, and the list could keep growing as the season unfolds.
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Jaguars Have A Cornerback Problem The Trade Deadline Could Finally Fix
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What makes this interesting for Jacksonville is the fit as much as the price. The Jaguars do not need a splashy move just for the sake of it, but they do need help at a spot where the options have to line up with both present needs and future cap reality. Whether the front office can find a corner who actually becomes available is the bigger question, and it is the kind of deadline puzzle that could shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Liam Coen Made One Jaguars Decision Fans Will Debate All Week
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Coen later pointed to his confidence in the kicker and the situation on the clock as the reasons for taking the points. Still, the choice will linger in Jacksonville after the Texans answered with a game-winning field goal of their own, turning a successful gamble on the scoreboard into one of those coaching decisions fans will revisit all week. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Bye Week Focus Says Everything About Their Biggest Problem
During the Jaguars bye week, Liam Coen put the spotlight on the kind of football that tends to decide a season in the margins. Jacksonvilles coach pointed to situational work as the priority, with the staff using the break to sharpen two-minute drills, third downs and red zone execution while also tightening up fundamentals that can cut down on penalties.
For a team trying to become more efficient in close games, it is a revealing list of fixes. The Jaguars are treating the bye as a chance to clean up the self-inflicted errors that have made game management harder than it should be, and the next stretch of the season will show whether the reset actually translates once the pressure comes back. [Read more 🡒]