The Pittsburgh Steelers took a hit in the hours before the 2026 NFL trade deadline when one of their most intriguing receiver targets came off the board.
Brian Thomas Jr., the former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick who had been viewed as a high-upside option for Pittsburgh, is staying put. Thomas, once a 1,100-yard receiver for Jacksonville, had slipped down the depth chart and emerged as a player the Steelers and others could chase. But that door closed after the latest word out of Jacksonville.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Jaguars have told interested teams they are not moving Thomas. Fowler shared the update on X, writing: "The Jaguars plan to keep WR Brian Thomas Jr. through the trade deadline," he wrote. "Coming off multiple big trades Monday, Jacksonville plans to keep its roster intact, barring a surprise."
The Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs were the teams most often connected to Thomas, but the Jaguars’ stance makes the situation pretty clear. Jacksonville has no appetite to break up its roster after making several major moves Monday.
That fits the bigger picture in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are one of the top teams in the AFC and across the league, with Trevor Lawrence playing at the top of his game.
They also added defensive help in safety Jessie Bates and defensive tackle Jordan Davis. For a team in that spot, moving a 24-year-old receiver with a proven track record would make little sense.
If anything, the Jaguars appear more interested in getting Thomas back to form as they continue their push toward the postseason.
For Pittsburgh, the focus now shifts to names that were always more realistic.
Josh Downs remains the leading candidate. The Indianapolis Colts receiver is in the final year of his rookie deal and wants out of his current team, and his quickness and ability to separate against man coverage make him a natural fit.
Two other receivers worth watching are Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown. Both would bring speed and playmaking to the Steelers’ receiver room, and both would likely cost less to acquire than bigger names like Downs or Thomas.
There are also veteran options that line up with the kind of moves Pittsburgh has made before. That group includes the Indianapolis Colts’ Keenan Allen, the Tennessee Titans’ Calvin Ridley and Jauan Jennings of the Minnesota Vikings.
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