With the NFL trade deadline still a few weeks out, the Jacksonville Jaguars have time to play both sides of the board. And after the kind of trade activity James Gladstone has already overseen, it’s not hard to imagine them back in the market again.
Under Gladstone, Jacksonville has moved Tyson Campbell, Tank Bigsby, Fred Johnson, and Luke Fortner while bringing in Jakobi Meyers, Greg Newsome, Daniel Faalele, and Quinn Ewers. That kind of roster churn makes another deal feel plausible, even if not all of the names on the table are equally realistic.
At the top of the list is Brian Thomas Jr., even if the Jaguars have shown zero intention of actually moving him. That’s what makes him such a fascinating name here.
Through five games, he has only nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, and over the last three games he’s been almost invisible: three receptions for 25 yards on just six targets. After an offseason that seemed to build real chemistry between Thomas and Trevor Lawrence, the production simply hasn’t followed.
Still, Thomas matters to this offense in ways that don’t show up neatly in the box score. His deep-threat presence forces defenses to stay honest, and the stress he creates has helped open things up for Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Brenton Strange over the last two seasons. That’s a big reason the Jaguars would be reluctant to even entertain the idea of moving him.
But the market can change quickly, and Marvin Harrison Jr. being traded for a second-round pick is exactly the kind of deal that makes teams at least pick up the phone. Thomas would be the most talented receiver available in this trade cycle, which would only drive up his price.
Jacksonville does not want to trade him, and odds are it won’t. But if the Jaguars do make a deadline move, he feels like the most likely candidate.
Arik Armstead lands next, though this one comes with a heavy dose of caution. He has been a major part of Jacksonville’s run defense and pass rush all season, and that has helped put the Jaguars alone in first place in the AFC South.
There’s also no denying the market value. His contract is workable, and he’s still disruptive inside, which gives him real appeal for a team looking to add help.
Even so, the Jaguars would be thinner without him. They’re trying to chase a Super Bowl this season, not tear pieces off the roster for a 2027 pick.
Armstead’s interior pressure is too important to what they do right now. If Ruke Orhorhoro is making a leap and Albert Regis is developing the way the team wants, that could change the conversation.
For now, though, this feels like the kind of move that looks better on paper than it does in practice.
Patrick Mekari is the other name that makes some sense, especially with left tackle Anton Harrison now on injured reserve. The injury has thinned the offensive line picture, but Jacksonville still has enough depth to get through it with Walker Little, Wyatt Milum, Jonah Monheim, and Daniel Faalele able to fill multiple spots. Mekari, once healthy, still carries value because of his versatility and experience.
Even a return comparable to the sixth-round pick the Jaguars gave up to the New York Giants for Faalele would make some sense. If Jacksonville activates Mekari soon, he could become a useful movable piece. The flip side is that he could also end up as a healthy scratch with Harrison out, since it would come down to him, Faalele, or Milum, and the Jaguars may not see a reason to carry Mekari on game day over either of those options.
So the list is clear enough: Thomas is the most intriguing name, Armstead is the most valuable veteran with trade appeal, and Mekari is the kind of depth piece whose situation could shift depending on how Jacksonville handles the offensive line over the next few weeks.
In Other News...
Liam Coen Knows Houston Brings A New Problem For Jaguars
The Jaguars first division test arrives in a setting that already adds a little extra theater, with Jacksonville opening AFC South play in Week 6 against Houston in London. Liam Coen has plenty to sort through before then, starting with the rivalry itself and the way the Texans have reshaped their defense under DeMeco Ryans, who is now calling plays and bringing a different kind of problem to a matchup that usually comes down to details and toughness.
Coen also pointed to Houstons recent roster movement, including the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr., as another layer of uncertainty the Jaguars have to prepare for even without knowing exactly how that piece will be used. It leaves Jacksonville facing a physical opponent with new wrinkles on both sides of the ball, and an early divisional game that could say a lot about how quickly this team adjusts once the real AFC South grind begins. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Still Have One Trade Need As Deadline Pressure Builds
The Chiefs have put together a strong start, but the receiver room still looks like the kind of area front offices monitor closely as the deadline approaches. Injuries have thinned Kansas Citys depth, and that has pushed wide receiver help to the front of the conversation, with Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jaguars emerging as one of the names worth watching if the team decides to be aggressive.
Thomas has seen his performance slip, which is part of what makes him a speculative trade candidate in the first place, even if Jacksonville does not appear eager to move him. For the Jaguars, that leaves the situation pretty straightforward for now, but the market can change quickly when a contender is hunting for proven help and a second-round pick is part of the discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rookie Class Suddenly Faces Real Pressure Entering Texans Week
Through five weeks, the Jaguars rookie class has been more of a work in progress than a weekly presence, with several first-year players spending Sundays as healthy scratches and others carving out only limited roles. Wesley Williams and CJ Williams have found it hard to crack the active mix, while Bryan Thomas Jr. and Josh Cameron have gotten onto the field in smaller doses as Jacksonville keeps sorting out where the young group fits.
Houston week could change that calculus, because the Jaguars are running into the point of the season where developmental patience starts to collide with the need for dependable depth. For a rookie class that has been watched closely for signs of progress, the next stretch offers a clearer test of who can earn more snaps and who is still waiting for a real opening. [Read more 🡒]