Steelers Rumors: Jaguars ‘Listening’ To Offers For Brian Thomas Jr. – TRADE Alex Highsmith For Him?

Steelers Rumors: Jaguars ‘Listening’ To Offers For Brian Thomas Jr. – TRADE Alex Highsmith For Him?

Welcome in to Steelers Talk. I’m your host, Jax Barry. Thank you guys for joining me here on Saturday to talk some Steelers football with me. We got some pretty interesting trade rumors to be put out today by the Athletics Diana Rousini surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers that we’re going to be discussing on today’s show. Plus, the Baltimore Ravens got some really, really bad news today. Let you guys know what that is at the end of today’s show. But before we get into today’s content, make sure you guys click that subscribe button because technically today is my day off. But I decided to get in front of a camera today and give you guys some Steelers content. Uh because that’s what we do here on Steelers Talk. Whenever there’s new juicy rumors, whenever uh there’s breaking news, whatever the case may be, if there’s something to talk about when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, doesn’t matter if I’m on the clock or not, I’m going to get in front of a camera and I’m going to talk about and get you guys a video. So, if you guys appreciate the dedicated coverage that you get here on Steelers Talk, make sure you guys click that subscribe button to never miss any of our videos. All right, so let’s get into really the big kind of story of the day dropped by the Athletics Diana Rousini, uh, who claims that the Jacksonville Jaguars are now listening to trade calls for secondyear wide receiver, former first round pick out of LSU, Brian Thomas Jr., and this is the exact wording from Rousini this morning. quote, “If the Jaguars are listening on calls for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., even if a move feels highly unlikely, they’re also shopping for defense,” unquote. So, the fact that Rousini specifically points out that it’s highly unlikely or that feels highly unlikely that Thomas will be dealt tells me that the asking price for him is extremely high. So, if you think the Steelers could potentially get him for like a second or a third round pick, think again. It’s at probably at least a first round pick. It’s probably first round pick and change. Maybe even two first round picks could be as high as that. Um because you know Brian Thomas Jr. uh you know he’s got really the complete package. He’s got great size. He’s got incredible speed and athleticism. Uh he can track the deep ball extremely well. He’s really good after the catch and uh he might not be the most refined best route runner in the world yet, but he is certainly getting there. He’s already had growth in that department throughout his NFL career. this year, you know, just having a really tough time connecting with Trevor Lawrence and he’s had some drop issues. Uh, but the potential is there with a guy like Brian Thomas Jr. to be a top 10 receiver in the National Football League and he still has multiple years left on his rookie contract. So, the fact that Rousini is saying it’s it feels highly unlikely that he’s going to be uh dealt probably tells me that this is going to cost whoever trades for him, if a trade’s going to happen, at least a first round pick. Probably even more than that. might be a first round pick and a starting caliber player. It might be a first round pick like a third round pick, maybe even up to two first round picks to even get in the conversation there. Um, but it’s certainly a big name and something that a lot of people on Steelers Twitter right now are talking about. Um, but unfortunately guys, uh, if if you’re getting your hopes up for BTJ in a Steelers uniform, I would say I would highly, highly, highly doubt the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market to trade as high of a price tag as they would need to to get a guy like Brian Thomas Jr. I think that the Steelers feel very good about their offense right now. Um, and they’re being very precious with their draft picks. So, you know, right now, you can make an argument since week four, they’ve been a top 10 offense in the game. Aaron Rogers is playing very well. They’ve loved their heavy tight end personnel packages. DK Metaf has been playing well. You’re getting Calvin Austin the third back here who the team really likes. I think the Steelers are certainly in the market to add wide receiver depth and to add another good wide receiver weapon to this offense, but I don’t think they want to break the bank for one. Um, and as intriguing and as fun as as the idea of Brian Thomas Jr. in a Steelers uniform is, especially because if you get him, you have him under a rookie costcont controlled contract for the next several seasons. And you can pair that with DK Metaf, who’s the guy you’re paying right now. And those two could arguably pair up and make one of the best, if not the best, wide receiver duo in the National Football League. Um, I think that the Steelers feel pretty good about where the offense is at. And I think that they’re more in the market for, you know, a wide receiver that would cost them at most like an early day three draft pick. Um, but honestly, like they I think they’d be they’re probably hoping for like a midday three draft pick. Like I’m sure they’d probably like to give away like a fifth round pick like they did last year at the trade deadline, for example. Now, you know, who knows which receivers are getable for that price tag before the trade deadline, but I can tell you this right now, Brian Thomas Jr. is definitely not. Um, you know, I would say, you know, the guys that are available for a fourth or fifth round pick, the Steelers will be interested in. Um, and honestly, they might be interested in someone say like Marquez Valdez Scaling, who doesn’t cost any draft picks, but has that experience with Aaron Rogers. He’s a deep threat. Um, all these different things, still has his speed with him. So, that might be something that the Steelers would prefer over giving up a draft pick in a very important draft for them next year. Um, for, you know, especially like a first round draft pick, which I think what this would cost if you’re going to go out and get a guy like Brian Thomas Jr. Um, and like I said, I think Jacksonville might even be asking for more than a just a first round pick, which is just an insane price tag that I don’t think the Steelers uh necessarily feel the need to to have to go out and make at this point in time. Um, especially if it’s a first round pick as they want to leave their options open to draft a quarterback next year if they feel like they need to. So, definitely don’t see PTJ being a Pittsburgh Steeler. I would not get my hopes up on that. Um, now some people have suggested, hey, let’s trade Alex Heismith and kind of reduce the price tag in terms of the the draft pick that you have to give up. Some people are suggesting Alex Heismith and a fourth round pick for Brian Thomas Jr. I I would say that that’s probably something that Jacksonville probably wouldn’t accept. They do have Josh Hines Allen. They do have Trayvon Walker. I think the help that Rousini talks about that they’re looking for on defense is more in the secondary than uh up front. Um, and also I think that they would want more than a fourth round pick if Alex Heismith is is is in the deal. I think they would almost want like a first Annheismith or at least a second anismith uh to be able to let go of Brian Thomas Jr. because I think they realize how valuable an asset Brian Thomas Jr. is on the open market. So, um, you know, I I really don’t see, you know, Heismith being involved in a deal here. Then also, you know, you think about Heismith and, you know, the fact that he’s a defensive player and one of the better defensive players on the Steelers. Uh, does it really make sense to trade away one of your starting defensive players in a very key spot uh when your defense is struggling? And frankly, your offense is playing pretty darn well. Um, for an offensive player, I don’t know how much sense that really makes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And if anything, you want to be keeping your defensive players on the roster. And you know, some people would argue you should be trying to get a defensive player to add to this team before the trade deadline to try and jumpst start this defense instead of, you know, going out and getting a player on the side of the ball that’s actually working at this point in time. Now, with that said, you know, even though I would be shocked to see the Steelers trade for or trade away Alex Heismith, even for a guy like Brian Thomas Jr., uh, I was surprised when they traded Minka Fitzpatrick. I did not think in a million years Mike Tomlin was going to sign off on a Minka Fitzpatrick trade even for a guy like Jaylen Ramsay. Um but they ended up doing that. So, you know, who knows if a if an if an offer and and an opportunity presents itself where it makes sense to trade Alex Heismith, who knows, maybe they would do it. I would be really really shocked to see them do it. Um so I I don’t want you guys to get your hopes up too high, but um you know, it would certainly be an interesting trade if they ended up doing that. Let’s just put it that way. But at the end of the day, don’t expect Brian Thomas Jr. to be uh somebody that’s really in consideration for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m sure that will disappoint some people. Um and I’m sure some people in the comments will disagree with me on that, but um I I I just don’t see the Steelers being willing to pay the kind of price tag that I think Jacksonville is going to want for him. Um in other news from Diana Rousini today, if you’re hoping the Steelers were going to get Chris Olive, according to Rousini, the Saints are not expected to trade Chris Olive. um and that he is expected to stay in New Orleans. Ob himself has said that he wants to be a saint for life and he wants to be there. He doesn’t want to be traded um and he is still young and he can still be a part of their rebuild there in New Orleans. Um I thought that he could be a a potential trade target because the concussion history that he has makes him a little bit of a risk for New Orleans to give a long-term extension to, but he’s been playing really well with Spencer Rattler over the last few weeks. and it sounds like that that team views Olive as a core building block for them in the future. So it doesn’t sound like Chris Olive will be leaving the New Orleans Saints. Now with that said, I still think that Rasheed Shahed and Brandon Cooks could absolutely still be getable for the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially for the price tag that we talked about earlier. Like if you can get Rasheed Shahed for like a fourth round pick, I think that that is something the Steelers would definitely be interested in. Um they do love their speedy deep threat receivers because um the way that this offense is structured, they want to be able to dominate at the line of scrimmage, force teams to play slower and with single high safeties, which opens up the deep shots to DK Metaf um and whoever’s on the other side. And Calvin Austin the third is more than capable of being that, you know, flanker Z deep threat type of guy. He’s got incredible speed and he’s actually got better hands than people give him credit for. But Shahed could, you know, add even another deep threat to this Steelers offense, especially if they want to play more 13 personnel. And then if they want to trade, let’s say they don’t even want to give up a fourth or a fifth round pick, they’d rather trade like a sixth or a seventh round draft pick. Brandon Cooks makes a little bit more sense potentially there because he can still run routes. He’s still got really quick feet. He still has tough hands. Uh he doesn’t have the deep threat ability anymore. Doesn’t have the speed. doesn’t have the yak ability that he once had all those years back when he was like a legit number two wide receiver. Uh but now he’s more of a number three that can run some good routes, create some separation versus man and make some tough catches. More of a possession type of guy in the National Football League today. So, you know, keep your eye on Brandon Cooks. It could be a seventh round pick, you know, kind of acquisition for the Steelers if they want somebody that can play on third downs, be a little bit more of a route runner, play with good hands. Um, you know, that’s certainly a possibility. It’s not my favorite possibility, but certainly is a possibility. And the guys right now that I would say uh you should be keeping your eye out for as a Steelers fan in terms of receiver targets, I would say Jacobe Meyers is probably the most likely trade uh target for the Steelers because Meyers is getting older. He wants to be traded out of Las Vegas. Um, and I think that because he’s on an expiring contract, he’s a little bit older. He’s never been a true number one. Um, you know, I think that he’d be very getable for an early day three pick. So, either a round four or round five pick, I think for a fifth round pick. If you’re getting Jacobe Myers for the same thing that you gave up for Mike Williams last year, you’re feeling really good about Jacobe Meyers coming in. Um, and I think that he’s kind of that perfect mix that the Steelers are looking for. Now, he doesn’t really separate down the field and he’s not a vertical threat. Um, but the Steelers, I think, have plenty of those. They got DK Metaf, they’ve got uh, you know, Calvin Austin, they’ve got Roman Wilson who’s a 4-3 guy as well. Like, they’ve got enough guys that can, you know, that can stretch the field vertically. What they don’t have enough of is guys that can separate versus man coverage consistently, especially versus press. And, uh, Jacobe Meyers is somebody that can absolutely do that. He’s got great size, physicality, so he can uh take on some physical corners on the outside, but he’s also got machine gun feet, super good route runner, uh you know, both versus man and zone. He’s smart enough to find those soft spots. He’s got really good hands, an over 60% career contested catch rate, which is really, really good. Um so keep still keep your eye on Jacobe Meyers cuz I really think he will be traded before the deadline and I think the Steelers uh are are really honing in on him. So, I’m really really hoping the Steelers can get Jacobe Myers because I think he’s the perfect mix of fit with the Steelers offense, the right price tag, and the Steelers have been reportedly interested in him for multiple weeks now. But other than him, Rasheed Shahed is somebody that I could see. If you’re somebody that likes the Brian Thomas Jr. idea, somebody with a very similar skill set is Calvin Ridley. Now Ridley is much older and Ridley is much more expensive over the last especially over the next couple of seasons, but he doesn’t have any guaranteed money on his deal if the Steelers trade for him this year. So you can let him go if he’s not playing up to your standards and you know if you’re looking for that skill set of bigger body, great speed, great vertical threat, great route runner, um honestly Ridley’s probably an even better route runner than Brian Thomas Jr. is. Now, like BTJ, Ridley’s had some, you know, hands issues, some some consistency issues in terms of uh catching the football. Um, but if you’re looking for somebody that separates to all three levels of the field and is an excellent route runner um at at a good size, you know, and for a pretty getable price tag, I think if I think Ridley could be got for like a fourth round pick. So, Ridley’s one to keep your eye on in my opinion. Also, Jawan Jennings is one to keep your eye out for. Uh there’s some receivers getting back into the lineup for San Francisco. Jennings has been getting the ball less and less and he’s already, you know, had some contract quarrels with San Francisco. Would not be surprised if he’s moved before the trade deadline. Uh Christian Kirk is another name to keep your eye out for. More of a slot guy, but you know, good route runner. Steelers were interested in him last year uh before he got injured in Jacksonville. He’s currently dealing with a hamstring injury in Houston, but he’s probably going to get healthy in time for the trade deadline. So, keep your eye on Christian Kirk. Also, um Allan Lazard and Brandon Cooks are kind of like the lower level, you know, give up a seventh rounder kind of guys. Um, of course, Lazard has that experience with Rogers. And then Marquez Valdis Scantling, I would say, is the most likely free agent target if they’re going to go that route. If the Steelers don’t want to give up a draft pick, but they still want somebody that’s a deep threat, they still want somebody with with experience with Rogers and can, you know, that already has established chemistry with him, somebody that can, you know, be more of a of a depth piece for them. Um, you know, he would be super cheap. I could see Marquez Valdis Scan being the target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, I’m hoping it’s Jacobe Meyers. I’m hoping it’s Calvin Ridley. I’m hoping it’s Jawan Jennings. I’m hoping the Steelers make, you know, a bigger move here and take a bigger swing because if DK Metaf, god forbid, goes down second half of the year, if Calvin Austin the third, god forbid, goes down in the second half of the year, you want to have another guy that you trust as a bonafide starter um every down starter that you can put out there on every single play and trust um and and and you know, really command attention from an opposing defense. So, I’m hoping it’s Jacobe Meyers. I’m hoping it’s Jawan Jennings. I’m hoping it’s Calvin Ridley. I’m hoping it’s one of these guys um that are, you know, true bonafide starters in this league. And you know, the Steelers have 12 draft picks, man. You can give away a fourth or a fifth round pick to make sure that you have really good depth at the wide receiver position. Give yourself a little bit more flexibility in terms of the formations and the personnel that you can run. Right now, I would say the Steelers don’t feel super comfortable playing 11 personnel, which is three receivers on the field. If you get one of these guys like Jacobe or or Calvin or Jawan and you get one of these guys that are like legitimate starters, you feel a lot more comfortable on those third and long situations, those second and long situations to go out there in 11 personnel and, you know, when you have to, you know, spread things out and you play an opponent where, you know, they don’t like to be spread out, you can do that. Uh, but you can also have the option of playing heavy and, you know, establishing the run and all that stuff that the Steelers have really built this offense around. So, um, you know, I wouldn’t pay too much for a wide receiver if I’m the Pittsburgh Steelers. I would try and stay in that kind of day three pick kind of lane to try and pick up a veteran. Um, but at the end of the day, like this offense is is playing pretty darn well and it’s going to be interesting to see um, you know, what caliber of guy they bring in because I do think they will bring in one more receiver before the trade deadline to help out this offense. But um you know I could certainly see them going to free agency and getting Marquez vowed at scantling just as easy easily as I could see them picking up Jacobe Meyers. So we’re just going to have to see on that. Now I’m going to finish up today’s show here guys by talking about Lamar Jackson who is officially out this week versus the Chicago Bears. It was originally believed that he was going to be able to play this week versus Chicago, but he is going to be out this week. And uh if if their offense has been any indication over the last several weeks without Lamar, it looks like the Chicago Bears, you know, you know, the Chicago Bears are going to be able to pretty easily get their fifth straight win. And the Baltimore Ravens are going to, you know, take yet another loss. And if that’s the case, unless, you know, the Baltimore pulls off a really crazy upset, they’re going to fall to one and six tomorrow. And if that happens, you know, they have a very narrow path to make the NFL playoffs. they have to play almost perfectly down the stretch uh if they’re going to, you know, even make the make a make a, you know, potential chance to upset the Pittsburgh Steelers or maybe even Cincinnati um for the division crown, let alone, you know, just make the playoffs as a wild card because usually you need 10 wins in the National Football League to make the playoffs. Um you know, maybe sometimes you can sneak in at nine and eight, but chances of that are pretty slim. And if you’re already at six losses and you know you still got a lot of games left on your schedule. You’re only at one win. You’re already at six losses. Um you know you’re going to have to win nine of your next 10 games just to get to 10 wins on the year. And even then like that’s not even guaranteeing the Steelers, you know, are at 10 and seven as well. Like they would have to sweep the Steelers. They would have to do a lot of different stuff. They’d have to, you know, just have they just have room for one more loss the rest of the season just to put themselves in contention to win the division. So, um, you know, the chances, I think, of Baltimore winning the AFC North will decrease dramatically if they lose tomorrow, like I’m guessing they’re probably expected to at this point. Um, so obviously that’s good news if you are a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, especially if Baltimore loses tomorrow and then the Steelers turn around and beat the Green Bay Packers and the Steelers are sitting at 5-2. like that is the type of situation here where we could be looking at all right man this division is is really um you know is really there for the taking for the Pittsburgh Steelers and as long as they don’t completely crap the bed and um you know Cincinnati or Baltimore comes up late it really feels like you know by this time tomorrow or by this time Monday I should say it could feel like the Pittsburgh Steelers are really in the driver’s seat to win the AFC North. Now obviously we can’t c we can’t count our chickens before they hatch. Um the Steelers need to go out and take care of business. Of course, we have to see if the Bears are going to take care of business versus Baltimore. Um Caleb Williams is certainly hasn’t been great this year. He could make some big mistakes that keep Baltimore in the ball game tomorrow. Um but you know, just on paper what it looks like right now, you know, it looks like Baltimore’s going to go to one and six. And if that’s the case, that’s obviously really good news if you’re a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and you’re hoping to get a home playoff game at Akasher Stadium this year. Um so we’ll see what ends up happening tomorrow, man. So that’ll be it for today’s show. Thank you guys so much for joining me here. I know it’s almost a 20inut at home video. Had a lot to talk about today with all the different trade rumors and all the different speculation going out right now. So I just want to thank you guys for making it to the end of today’s show. I will see you guys next time. Until then, here we go, Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumors: The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly listening to trade offers for WR Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas was a first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and after a great rookie year, has had a down year so far for the Jaguars. Should the Pittsburgh Steelers make a move for Brian Thomas and trade OLB Alex Highsmith. Jack Sperry of Steelers Report by Chat Sports breaks down potential Steelers trade rumors as well as how Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson being ruled out could affect the Steelers chances of winning the AFC North.

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The Athletics’ Dianna Russini on X:
“The Jaguars are listening on calls for WR Brian Thomas Jr., even if a move feels highly unlikely. They’re also shopping for defense.”

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Get involved in the conversation by answering today’s Steelers questions and talk some Steelers football with fellow Yinzers:
– Would you trade Alex Highsmith for Brian Thomas Jr.? Yes or No
– Who should the Steelers trade for before the trade deadline?
– True or False: The Baltimore Ravens will be 1-6.

WR Brian Thomas Jr. 2025 stats:
27 REC
365 YDS
13.5 AVG
1 TD

WR Brian Thomas Jr. has had his problems this year with drop and health concerns but still has the talent to be a great WR. The Pittsburgh Steelers could use another great weapon beside D.K Metcalf and Calvin Austin III. Could they consider trading Alex Highsmith for Brian Thomas? Host Jack Sperry thinks that they shouldn’t trade away a high end defensive player with the defense already struggling.

We’ve got more Pittsburgh Steelers content every day here at Steelers Talk. He’s some of our latest hits:
– The Pittsburgh Steelers Just Got BIG INJURY NEWS That Impacts Their Week 8 Matchup vs. The Packers – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euv6F-uZRLw
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– Steelers News: DC Teryl Austin Shares CONCERNING Evaluation Of PIT’s Defense + Week 8 Injury Updates – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_Q9s2hXjc

AFC North standings:
– Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-2
– Cincinnati Bengals: 3-4
– Cleveland Browns: 2-5
– Baltimore Ravens: 1-5

The Pittsburgh Steelers despite a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Prime’s Thursday Night Football are at the top of the AFC North. With the defending AFC North winner Baltimore Ravens off to a disastrous 1-5 start, the Pittsburgh Steelers can control their destiny and can get a home playoff game for the first time since 2020.

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