The Patriots have already done plenty of shuffling at wide receiver, and the door might not be closed yet.
After bringing in A.J. Brown back in June for a couple of draft picks and moving on from Kayshon Boutte before the regular season, New England has been tied to another possible addition: Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Brian Thomas Jr.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay put the Patriots among the teams that could make sense for Thomas, along with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers. Kay pointed to New England’s thin receiving production and the need to help Drake Maye find more answers on offense.
"The departures of veteran star Stefon Diggs - who led New England with 85 catches and 1,013 receiving yards last year - and deep threat Kayshon Boutte (33/551/6 in 2025) are being sorely felt around Foxboro," Kay wrote. "While Brown can still be the No. 1 receiver this offense sorely needs when he returns from IR, quarterback Drake Maye desperately needs more weapons to get back to playing at an MVP level.
"Although the Pats managed to bottle up Thomas when they faced him in Week 3, the coaching staff has assuredly seen the wideout's tremendous rookie tape and is aware of his upside."
Thomas, now in his third season, has not been the centerpiece of Jacksonville’s passing game through three weeks. He has seven catches for 88 yards and no touchdowns, and against New England in Week 3 he finished with three receptions for 40 yards. Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers have drawn more of the work early on, leaving Thomas in a different role than many expected.
That setup could make him available if Jacksonville decides to turn his name into draft capital. The Jaguars are 2-1 and sitting in first place in the AFC South.
For New England, the need is easy to see. The current receiver group includes Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III. Brown is still on IR for at least one more week because of a high-ankle sprain, and Kyle Dixon, Cameron Dorner and Chandler Brayboy are on the practice squad.
The production has been light. Hollins leads the Patriots with only 12 catches, and Doubs, who signed a lucrative $68 million deal in free agency, has not yet lived up to that price tag. On paper, Thomas would bring a much bigger jolt.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano said teams around the league are watching to see whether Thomas becomes available, and called him "perceived as a No. 1 wide receiver talent." If Jacksonville ever entertained the idea, New England would likely have to send real value back, probably a top-100 draft pick.
The fit makes sense because the Patriots’ offense has not found its groove. Maye has already turned the ball over seven times, the run game has not gotten going, and the passing game has been cramped. A receiver with Thomas’ speed could stretch the field and force defenses to think twice.
If the Patriots keep slipping in the coming weeks, this is the kind of move that could start sounding a lot more real.
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