Arriving during Trent Baalke‘s final draft as Jaguars GM, Brian Thomas Jr. enjoyed a promising rookie season before submitting to a sophomore slump. With a new regime running the show now, Thomas’ standing in Duval County may be a bit shaky.
The Jaguars are believed to be listening to offers on Thomas, SNY’s Connor Hughes reports. Teams called the Jags about Thomas at last year’s deadline — the Giants, Jets and Steelers among them — but the team was not open to dealing the 2024 first-rounder. It appears the AFC South club is now more willing to hear what Thomas can bring in a trade.
The Steelers called the Jags on Thomas last year, but they agreed to trade for Michael Pittman Jr. earlier today. The Jets added Adonai Mitchell in their Sauce Gardner trade. The Giants lost Wan’Dale Robinson to the Titans in free agency, though they still roster Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton. Thomas played with Nabers at LSU, and Slayton’s contract can be shed fairly easily in 2027.
Although the Jags are prepared to shift Travis Hunter to more of a cornerback-first role, they saw Thomas fail to make a big impact in Liam Coen‘s debut. The big-bodied target slumped to a 48-catch, 707-yard season. That would not exactly qualify as a woeful campaign, but Thomas posted 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. He caught just two TDs last season, and trade pickup Jakobi Meyers checked in as a more reliable option in Coen’s offense. The Jags have since given Meyers a three-year, $60MM extension.
It would seemingly take at least a Day 2 pick — possibly with another choice sprinkled in — to convince the Jags to move off a player with a 1,200-yard rookie season in his recent past. Two years remain on Thomas’ rookie contract, increasing his value. No extension talks can commence until 2027. As it stands, the Jags do not look likely to ever initiate those.
Coen and GM James Gladstone gutted Baalke’s pass catcher setup last year, trading Christian Kirk and cutting Evan Engram, Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay. Dyami Brown also played out his 2025 contract. If the Jags are to seriously entertain trading Thomas, they would need at least one more option. That said, Parker Washington took a step forward last year and led the division-winning team with 847 receiving yards. Though, he is now in a contract year. Thomas’ status will be a storyline to monitor as teams fill their receiver rooms in free agency.
PATRIOTS
Washington bring this Daniels teammate in, not Aiyuk
I’ve been saying this would make more sense for the Patriots than AJ Brown. True for a bunch of teams. Could see the Chiefs taking a big swing here.
Team him back up with Malik Nabers…get it done. Thibodeaux and a 6?
And a 6th rounder? Zero chance. They’ll likely be able to land a first rounder for Thomas.
Oooof. Not sure I agree. 3rd Rd is my guess.
As a Browns fan, I’d give up a third rounder immediately for him
I think there’s zero chance he’s that cheap unless there’s something seriously wrong in behavior or health we don’t know about.
Look at it this way:
-He won’t turn 24 until October.
-He had 87 catches for almost 1300 yards as a rookie and even in a severely down year last year had 700 yards.
-He’s a true X receiver with great size and speed.
-He’ll cost about $8.5 million total over the next two seasons.
That guy will command more than a 3. Especially in a world where Alec Pierce is getting $29 million a year and Romeo Doubs is about to get seriously paid.
They likely won’t budge unless deal is top of the line. Something crazy like….a fourth, seventh, and …..hmmm….Keon Coleman?
That would be a fun combination for Allen. McDermott is probably already jaded that Beane finally swung a deal for a top receiver (Cooper being past his prime at the time). If Buffalo grabs a possession outside receiver, who is young on top of it, to be a complement to Moore? Well, it would prove McDermott right about them needing to get more weapons.
Again the deal would have to be GOOD
@Ak185 @SentinelATL Exactly the type of trade I was thinking, and it doesn’t need to happen to prove McD right – everyone knows he was right. Beane survived and now needs to keep his job, and will hopefully have a better D in the playoffs to complement the O.. still need help at DE, S, LB though.
Zero chance he comes that cheap.
I wouldn’t be so sure. He’s on a rookie deal again the offer would have to be favorable but a fourth and seventh is very realistic
What do you think Keon Coleman himself is worth in a trade right now? A fourth? Because Thomas himself is very likely worth a first.
Giants continue your solid offseason so far…
Thibs and a 4th
Dart Skateboo Nabers Thomas Likely
That’s solid and young offensively
Lawrence Carter Burns Edmunds Holland
That’s a pretty good defence too
Too light.
Or….he goes to Browns for a fourth fifth and DT?
This would have been a great target for Pittsburgh, as noted in the article, but the price for Pittman seems too good to pass up.
To me, this is the best value at WR this offseason-especially if your team needs a reliable possession option.it’s too bad for Tennessee that they’re in the same division, as this would be right up their alley.
This has Raiders written all over it with the moves they are making right now and the draft capital to pull it off!