The Raiders may already have their quarterback of the future in Fernando Mendoza, but the real question is who he’ll be throwing to when his turn comes. Las Vegas used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Mendoza, and while he still hasn’t started a game for the Raiders in 2026, there’s time left in the season for that to change.
The bigger issue is the pass-catching group around him. Tre Tucker has started the year well, but Jalen Nailor and the rest of the receiver room have been underwhelming at best. That’s where ESPN’s Bill Barnwell comes in with a trade idea that would instantly change the conversation.
Barnwell’s proposal has the Raiders landing Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in a midseason blockbuster. The deal is simple: “Raiders get: WR Brian Thomas Jr.; Jaguars get: 2027 second-round pick,” Barnwell proposes.
There would be plenty of interested teams for Thomas, especially clubs in a more obvious win-now window such as the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Rams. But Las Vegas may be the cleanest fit. The Raiders need a true No. 1 receiver, and Thomas would give Mendoza exactly that once he gets on the field.
Thomas would also bring a downfield element that fits neatly alongside Tucker and Brock Bowers. And because the Raiders are building more for the future than the present, they may be more willing to pay Jacksonville’s price of a second-round pick.
Barnwell points to the Houston Texans giving up a second-round pick to land Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals as the kind of price point that could make sense here. It’s a steep cost, but the payoff would be giving Mendoza a serious weapon when he takes over the offense.
From Jacksonville’s angle, moving Thomas to an AFC team would still keep him away from the postseason picture more often than not, since the Raiders likely won’t be a playoff team in 2026. That makes the idea more palatable for the Jaguars than if he were headed somewhere with a clearer playoff path.
There’s also the long-term piece. Thomas is in year three, and he still has a fourth season plus a fifth-year option ahead of him. That gives the Raiders multiple seasons to pair him with Mendoza if they choose to pull the trigger.
And if Las Vegas might consider making this kind of move in the offseason anyway, doing it now would only speed up the process. Barnwell’s trade idea gives Mendoza help, gives the Raiders a legitimate top target, and doesn’t feel far-fetched.
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Jaguars Offense Has One Annoying Problem It Cant Keep Carrying
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Coen said the drops were a concern but not something that sent the coaching staff into panic mode, pointing in part to the weather in Houston. Still, Jacksonville knows it needs a cleaner showing before Week 8 against the Colts, because the margin for error in the AFC South is thin and the offense cannot keep giving away easy completions. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Mock Draft Revives A Familiar Secondary Concern
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Antonio Johnson and Eric Murray are part of the current safety picture in Jacksonville, and their contract situations add another layer to the discussion as the Jaguars map out the future. Even this far out, the projection underscores how often the secondary has come into focus for Jacksonville, and how another safety conversation could keep resurfacing as the roster evolves. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Thomas Jr. Has Become A Real Jaguars Trade Question
Brian Thomas Jr. has gone from a promising young piece to a surprising conversation starter in Jacksonville, and it has not taken long for the chatter to turn into actual trade speculation. ESPNs Bill Barnwell floated a hypothetical deal that would send the receiver to the Raiders for a 2027 second-round pick, a reminder of how quickly perceptions can change when a players role starts shrinking instead of growing.
The Jaguars have not exactly advertised any interest in moving Thomas, but his playing time has dropped enough to make the idea feel less far-fetched than it would have a few weeks ago. Liam Coen has already talked about the need for players to step up, and the recent usage pattern has only added to the sense that Jacksonville may be at least willing to listen if the right offer comes along. [Read more 🡒]