Brian Thomas Jr., the Jaguars' wide receiver, is a top trade candidate as the NFL Draft approaches. After a disappointing second season, he may be traded to teams like the Patriots or Steelers for a higher draft pick.
Key points
Brian Thomas Jr. is a top trade candidate for the Jaguars.
He had 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie.
His performance declined to 707 yards and two touchdowns in his second season.
The Jaguars lack a first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
The team may trade Thomas to secure a top 50 draft pick.
Jacksonville JaguarsBrian Thomas Jr.New England PatriotsPittsburgh Steelers
The NFL Draft has the full focus of the league this week, but that could mean some veterans change teams as well.
The biggest name on the trading block appears to be Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who may have fallen a bit out of favor with the organization. Thomas had 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, but followed that up with just 707 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
Jacksonville doesn't have a first-round pick this year as a result of the Travis Hunter trade last year, so the Jaguars don't pick until the 24th selection of the second round. Therefore, the team could dangle Thomas to get a pick in the top 50 — and potentially the first round — if a team is willing to part with its pick.
With Thomas' name in trade rumors, The Sporting News ranks the five best landing spots for the young wide receiver.
The Patriots still have a huge vacancy to fill at wide receiver after releasing Stefon Diggs in the offseason. New England added Romeo Doubs in free agency and could still trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown later in the spring, but Thomas is a younger, higher-upside option.
By acquiring Thomas, the Patriots would have a young wide receiver to grow alongside quarterback Drake Maye as the top option in the offense. Both players were members of the 2024 NFL Draft class, and both players are just 23 years old, so Thomas is a better long-term option for the Patriots than Brown.
The Raiders are set to take Fernando Mendoza first overall on Thursday night, but Las Vegas' biggest need in the draft is actually wide receiver. Currently, the Raiders' top wide receivers are Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech, so the team has a glaring need for a true No. 1 receiver to pair with tight end Brock Bowers.
The Jaguars and Raiders made a trade midseason, as Las Vegas sent Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville, which began the domino effect that led to the Jaguars considering trading Brian Thomas Jr. While the Raiders are likely still rebuilding in 2026, Thomas would give Mendoza another top target as he eases into the NFL.
While the Steelers are still waiting on if Aaron Rodgers will play this year, Pittsburgh also needs to add another wide receiver in draft week. Pittsburgh has DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman at the top of their depth chart, but beyond those two, there's not much upside or reliability.
Additionally, the Steelers have 12 picks in this year's draft, which gives them the ammo to potentially pull off a trade. Pittsburgh's offseason is of a team that wants to try and compete in 2026 instead of rebuild, but Thomas offers the team a little bit of both.
The Jets have four picks in the top 50 of this year's draft and a glaring need at wide receiver. While New York could address the position with its second first-round pick at No. 16, trading for Thomas would allow the team to focus on taking a different position at that spot.
Thomas would pair with Garrett Wilson to form a dynamic wide receiver duo, with Geno Smith set to start at quarterback in 2026. However, the true purpose of the Thomas-Wilson pairing would be to prepare the Jets to take a franchise quarterback in 2027, when New York has three more first-round picks.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Brian Thomas Jr. played together in college at LSU in 2022 and 2023, so the duo has built-in chemistry. Washington is coming off a disappointing season in 2025, but Thomas would help inject some life into the offense next year.
The problem Washington faces is a lack of draft capital. The Commanders own just two picks in the first four rounds, including a seventh overall pick which is likely off limits in trade talks. Therefore, Washington would have to be very comfortable including 2027 draft capital in these negotiations.
