After a 3-0 start, the Las Vegas Raiders have hit a rough wall, dropping their last four games and putting real pressure on the stretch ahead. Even with the skid, they remain in the playoff conversation, which is exactly why a move before the trade deadline would not come as a shock.
Wide receiver has become one of the clearest spots the Raiders need to address, and one name now tied to them is a familiar one from Jacksonville. The Athletic’s Daniel Popper listed the Raiders as one of the top trade fits for Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who has been the subject of trade rumors.
The connection makes sense on paper. Las Vegas needs another receiver who can change games, and Thomas fits the profile of a player worth a swing if the Raiders want to turn things around fast. A bold move for a young talent could line up with that need.
Thomas has put together a quiet start this season, with one touchdown, nine catches, and 105 receiving yards in six games for Jacksonville. That follows a 2025 campaign in which he finished with two touchdowns, 48 receptions, and 707 receiving yards in 14 games.
Still, the appeal comes from what he showed as a rookie in 2024. Thomas looked like a future star that season, posting 10 touchdowns, 87 receptions, and 1,282 receiving yards. Those numbers are the kind that make a team think twice about passing on him if he becomes available.
In Other News...
Jaguars Trade Buzz Now Centers On One Name Fans Wont Like
Trade chatter around the league keeps circling back to a handful of notable names, and for Jaguars fans the most eye-catching one is Brian Thomas Jr. Multiple teams have reportedly checked in on deals involving the Colts Josh Downs and Thomas, with Downs said to be possibly open to a move. It is the sort of buzz that tends to follow a receiver who has already shown enough to draw attention, even if most of these conversations stay in the realm of due diligence.
Jacksonville is also being tied to a possible swing for Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, which adds another layer to the rumor mill as teams try to sort out whether they want to add, subtract or simply keep listening. Around the rest of the league, Titans players Jermaine Johnson, Tony Pollard and Alontae Taylor have also come up as trade possibilities, underscoring how active the market feels. For the Jaguars, the bigger question is whether interest in Thomas is just background noise or something that will force the front office to answer calls more seriously. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Look Like A Team That Could Swing Big Again
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Jaguars are once again being mentioned as a team to watch if the market heats up. ESPN analysts Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano both pointed to Jacksonville as a possible buyer, with Fowler even floating Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne as a name to keep in mind if Washington decides to listen.
Jacksonville already showed a willingness to make a move at last years deadline when it brought in Jakobi Meyers, and Graziano suggested the front office could be looking for more help on the defensive side this time around. For a team trying to keep pushing forward, that kind of aggressive mindset usually means the next week could be a lot more interesting than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Enter Week 8 With A Chance To Change Everything In AFC South
The Jaguars enter Week 8 carrying more than just a solid spot in SIs weekly power rankings. At No. 8, they have earned the kind of national respect that comes from steady play, and now the schedule gives them a chance to turn that into something bigger. With divisional matchups and other conference tests ahead, Jacksonville is positioned to make a real move in both the AFC South and the wider AFC picture.
For a team that has spent the early part of the season climbing into the conversation with contenders such as the Bengals, Ravens and Chiefs, the next stretch could define how far that momentum goes. The rankings are a snapshot, but the games ahead will decide whether the Jaguars stay in that neighborhood or start separating themselves from the pack. [Read more 🡒]