The Jaguars are suddenly one of the more interesting teams to watch as the NFL trade deadline creeps closer, and the reasons are piling up fast.
Jacksonville has already shown under general manager James Gladstone that it isn’t shy about making deals. That includes a move at last year’s deadline to bring in wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. With the deadline now seven days away, the conversation around the Jaguars has shifted to which names could actually be in play next.
The biggest buzz still centers on Brian Thomas Jr., even if the Jaguars’ position on him has not changed much publicly. Reports have repeatedly said Jacksonville has been reluctant to enter trade talks involving Thomas, a stance that dates back to when his name first surfaced around this time a year ago. Over the weekend, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero said some around the league believe that stance could change, but the sense remains that the Jaguars likely feel the same way about Thomas now as they did when they declined to move him before.
NBC’s Mike Florio identified three teams that appear to have interest in Thomas: the Washington Commanders, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Florio also said the Steelers and Chiefs both like Josh Downs, with Pittsburgh preferring Downs and Kansas City preferring Thomas. The Commanders, meanwhile, are led by Thomas’ former college quarterback in Jayden Daniels.
Even with all that noise, there still hasn’t been reporting suggesting Jacksonville is actively shopping Thomas. The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones said the Jaguars have “been firm” that they are not looking to trade him. Jones also reported that if Thomas were dealt, the return would likely be a Day 2 pick.
Another area to watch is the defensive tackle market, where the Jaguars have been linked for weeks. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said Jacksonville and the Minnesota Vikings are among the teams seeking help at defensive tackle before the deadline. That fit made sense even before Davon Hamilton’s season-ending injury, and now the need looks even sharper.
Albert Breer of SI had already reported a week ago that the Jaguars were looking for help on the interior defensive line. Gladstone also made some notable comments recently about defensive tackle trades around the AFC South. If Jacksonville does make a move before the deadline, this feels like the spot most likely to get addressed.
In Other News...
Jaguars Win Offered Hope For Brian Thomas Jr And A Bigger Worry
A win over the Colts gave the Jaguars a needed lift in Week 8, and Brian Thomas Jr. was part of the good news. The young receiver found the red zone for a touchdown, a reminder that even in a season with plenty of uneven stretches, Jacksonville still has playmakers who can tilt a game when the offense needs a spark.
Liam Coen also had reason to feel encouraged by the way the roster held up around him, especially with season-ending injuries piling up for Davon Hamilton, Eric Murray and Anton Harrison. The Jaguars got meaningful help from depth players in the victory, but the larger challenge now is keeping that standard in place as the season asks more of the locker room in terms of leadership and mental toughness. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Brian Thomas Jr. Debate They Never Wanted
Brian Thomas Jr. arrived in Jacksonville with the kind of rookie season that usually quiets any long-term worries, but the conversation around him has shifted quickly in the current season. His production and playing time have both dipped, even as Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence have continued to show support for the young receiver, and the numbers now place him behind other Jaguars pass catchers in both receptions and yards.
For a team that expected Thomas to be a foundational piece, the sudden debate is an uncomfortable one, especially with trade chatter starting to swirl around him. The idea of moving a player with his upside would have sounded far-fetched not long ago, but the speculation has only grown as possible suitors and package ideas enter the discussion, leaving Jacksonville with a question it never wanted to confront so soon. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Newsomes Rise After Jacksonville Just Took Another Painful Turn
A cornerback market that has been moving quickly got another jolt this week, and it is the kind of development Jaguars fans will notice even from afar. Greg Newsome, who joined the Giants on a one-year deal this past offseason, has turned that short-term arrangement into a much bigger commitment after a strong start to his 2026 season, one that has made him a central piece of New Yorks defense.
The new three-year, $46 million extension, with $32 million guaranteed, says plenty about how quickly Newsomes value has climbed. For Jacksonville, it is another reminder of how fast the league can shift around a player who was once on a short leash, and how a productive season can change the conversation before the calendar even gets too deep into the year. [Read more 🡒]