Standout wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was floated around as a potential trade candidate at the 2025 NFL trade deadline back in October, but the Jacksonville Jaguars proved unwilling to listen to offers. However, according to Connor Hughes of SNY, that appears to have changed.
Thomas Jr. broke out onto the scene as a rookie in 2024, making the Pro Bowl and finishing fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. He took the league by storm with his 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns, looking the part of a future superstar for the Jaguars. Things changed in Year 2 for Thomas Jr., however.
Brian Thomas Jr. Trade Decision and Year 2 Injury
Thomas Jr. missed three games due to injury, and his averages dropped considerably in the games he did play. He went from 75.4 receiving yards per game to an average of 50.5, which would’ve fallen short of 1,000 yards even if he did play in each game. He only scored two touchdowns in 2025, too.
SOURCES: The #Jaguars are entertaining offers for WR Brian Thomas, @snytv has learned.
Both the #Jets & #Giants explored Thomas at the traded deadline last year, but Jacksonville wasn’t willing to do any deal.
That stance has changed.
Thomas had a down 2025 (48 catches, 707… pic.twitter.com/VwpsvjdG0E
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 9, 2026
From Year 1 to Year 2, Thomas Jr. dropped from the No. 4 receiver in the NFL by the PFSN NFL WR Impact metrics all the way down to No. 71. Still just 23 years old, the former LSU wideout is extremely gifted with an incredibly high ceiling. If Jacksonville ends up trading Thomas Jr., these four teams would make the most sense as potential landing spots.
New York Giants
As Hughes revealed in the aforementioned tweet, the New York Giants were among the teams that pursued a trade for Thomas Jr. at last year’s trade deadline. While no deal ended up coming to fruition, it would make a lot of sense now for the Giants to reach back out in pursuit of a deal.
Wan’Dale Robinson signed with the Tennessee Titans on Monday to become one of the priciest free agent acquisitions on the first day of the legal tampering window. With him departs the 140 targets, 92 receptions, and 1,014 receiving yards that he had for New York in 2025.
Malik Nabers returns from injury in 2026, but he could use an upgrade alongside him in the passing attack. Reuniting Nabers and Thomas Jr. on the Giants could see them replicate their glory days at LSU, as well as give Jaxson Dart another talented weapon to work with in his first full season as their starter.
Las Vegas Raiders
As their blockbuster signing of Tyler Linderbaum has shown, the Las Vegas Raiders aren’t afraid to spend money this offseason. Whether or not that signing was good value remains to be seen, but between that and additions of Kwity Paye, Jalen Nailor, and Taron Johnson, they seem committed to making sure they don’t have a repeat of their 2025 season.
Sure, the Raiders just dealt Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens. Trading for a player like Thomas Jr. would be much more of a buying move than the Crosby trade was a selling move. However, that also means Las Vegas will have two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts. That gives them plenty of flexibility in these coming drafts.
After a down year in 2025, Thomas Jr. might not fetch Jacksonville a first-round pick. But say the Raiders offer a package including a second-round pick and more to acquire Thomas Jr.? That might not be a bad move, especially for a team without a true WR1 that will soon be selecting Fernando Mendoza as their quarterback of the future.
New York Jets
Along with the Giants, the other team Hughes mentioned upon reporting the Jaguars’ open-mindedness towards a trade was the New York Jets. They’re also in a similar situation to the Giants, in that they’re a young team with a good WR1 but a lackluster supporting cast, and a poor 2025 record.
Though the Giants might be more prepared to compete in 2026 than the Jets, the latter could still make sense as a landing spot for Thomas Jr. They have four picks in the top 45 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they have three first-round picks in 2027. They have plenty of draft capital, giving them the flexibility to make a big trade acquisition if they so choose.
Thomas Jr. would be a cheap addition in the short term and an instant boost to a Jets offense whose passing attack struggled significantly in 2025. They might not be able to find their answer at quarterback this offseason, but pairing Thomas Jr. with Garrett Wilson would set the stage for future success.
New England Patriots
As far as realistic landing spots go for Thomas Jr., the New England Patriots should be at the top of his preferences. The defending AFC champions are in desperate need of help at the wide receiver position after releasing Stefon Diggs as a cap casualty.
Drake Maye is coming off a season that saw him finish second in NFL MVP voting, meaning his stock in the eyes of his peers should be very high right now. Mike Vrabel did a great job in his first season as New England’s head coach, Josh McDaniels is an effective play-caller on offense, and Thomas Jr. wouldn’t face steep competition for the WR1 role.
Top wide receiver free agents like Alec Pierce, Mike Evans, and Wan’Dale Robinson are all off the board and unavailable to the Patriots. There’s still solid talent available, but there’s no true WR1 of the bunch that’s left. Thomas Jr. would be their best bet for finding that dominant wide receiver to pair with Maye going forward.
