With the NFL trade deadline closing in, the spotlight around Jacksonville has landed squarely on Brian Thomas Jr. The Jaguars may still be hesitant to move the former first-round pick and 1,000-yard receiver, but the reporting around him has made one thing clear: a deal feels more likely than not.
If Jacksonville does decide to move Thomas, a handful of teams stand out as logical landing spots. Here’s how they stack up.
The Washington Commanders feel like the cleanest match at the top of the board. Thomas already has a built-in connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was his college quarterback, and that kind of familiarity has already mattered in a receiver move earlier this season with Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Houston Texans and CJ Stroud. Even with Dan Quinn on the hot seat, this would still make sense for general manager Adam Peters in both the short and long term.
Washington’s need is obvious. Terry McLaurin’s season-ending injury leaves a major hole, and even before that, the Commanders were viewed as a team that needed to rework its receiver room. Stefon Diggs has been fine, but they still need a future No. 1, and Thomas could fill that role.
If Jacksonville wants to send Thomas to an AFC team, the Las Vegas Raiders are the strongest fit. Fernando Mendoza gives them a hopeful franchise quarterback waiting in the wings, and the need at receiver is real. Even with the Raiders sliding lately, they could still treat this as a move for both now and later.
Right now, the Raiders are getting very little from the receiver group beyond Tre Tucker, who is talented but not a WR1. Brock Bowers is elite, Michael Mayer gives them another useful option, and Thomas would bring actual No. 1 receiver upside along with proven production. Las Vegas also looks like the kind of team willing to pay a premium.
The Los Angeles Rams also belong in the conversation. Davante Adams and Puka Nacua account for more than 40% of the team’s targets, and both are dealing with injury issues. Nacua has a calf injury, while Adams is expected to miss most of the rest of the season because of a 6-to-10 week injury he suffered earlier this year.
After those two, the Rams’ receiver depth is thin, with Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, and Jordan Whittington listed behind them. That is not a group that inspires much confidence.
Sean McVay and Les Snead need help quickly, especially with the Rams in danger of missing the playoffs. The Jaguars and Rams also have close franchise ties because of Liam Coen and James Gladstone, which could make a deal easier if Los Angeles is willing to overlook Thomas’ pass-catching flaws.
The Atlanta Falcons are another team that makes sense. They already have one of the league’s best skill-position trios in Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, but the receiving help drops off fast after that. Jahan Dotson is their No. 2 receiver, and Olamide Zaccheaus and Zachariah Branch have combined for just 21 targets through six games.
Thomas could give the Falcons a dangerous complement to London, especially on routes across the middle. His skill set also fits with Michael Penix’s downfield throwing style, and Atlanta’s spot in one of the league’s most winnable divisions only adds to the appeal. A trade there would also keep Thomas away from the Jaguars for the time being, which would be a welcome side effect for Atlanta.
Pittsburgh is worth watching too. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned the Steelers as a possible receiver-needy team, and they make more sense as a trade partner than a lot of other AFC contenders. A move for Thomas would be a little unusual for Pittsburgh’s offensive setup, but the Steelers have never been shy about doing odd things.
Their wide receiver group is thin beyond DK Metcalf and rookie Germie Bernard. Michael Pittman Jr. has been injured, and Roman Wilson is seeing fewer opportunities than Jaylen Warren and Pat Freiermuth. That makes a big-play threat like Thomas a reasonable fit for a pass-happy team.
The San Francisco 49ers are another team that keeps coming up because of the injuries they’ve had at receiver. Christian Kirk is expected back from injury to help, but the Niners still look like a team that could use more firepower. With Brock Purdy playing at an MVP-level and San Francisco looking like one of the best teams in football, there’s a case for them to be aggressive while the window is open.
Thomas’ issues with drops and in-breaking routes could complicate things in that scheme, but Kyle Shanahan would likely find a way to use him. At the same time, Liam Coen is also an elite offensive mind, and he hasn’t found a way to make it work with Thomas in Jacksonville.
The Seahawks remain a team to keep an eye on, even if the fit is not as clean as some of the others. Seattle is 3-3 right now and could be below .500 by the deadline, which would make an explosive addition more appealing as it tries to get its offense moving. The Seahawks also lack a true No. 2 alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp not exactly striking fear into defenses.
Opponents keep shading coverage toward JSN, and Thomas could benefit from that kind of attention in a big way if paired with a strong-armed quarterback like Sam Darnold.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the most complicated case. If this were a ranking of who needs Thomas most, or where he would fit best on pure talent, they would be near the top. But from Jacksonville’s perspective, that is exactly the problem.
Kansas City is the only true AFC contender on this list, and the Jaguars are not supposed to be helping them out with a potential difference-maker. The Chiefs clearly make sense as a team that could want Thomas, but that also makes them the least attractive trade partner for Jacksonville. For the same reason, the Jaguars probably shouldn’t be eager to send him to the Buffalo Bills either.
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