The 2025 NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away. Will the Washington Commanders be buyers again in 2025? Or, could Washington take the same route as 2023 and sell?
Most often, trade deadline deals involve players on expiring contracts. Contenders are looking for help after seeing what they need, while other teams are looking ahead to the following NFL draft. A team rarely trades a star player with multiple years remaining on his rookie contract.
That could change this year. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Jacksonville Jaguars are “listening” to offers for second-year wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly. The 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft caught 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. Thomas looked like an immediate superstar and a cornerstone player for years to come.
Why would the Jags even consider trading Thomas? Thomas has struggled with drops this season, and there was a moment earlier in the season when it appeared Thomas seemed to shy away from contact. Head coach Liam Coen was not happy.
Remember, this is a new Jacksonville regime. Coen and GM James Gladstone did not draft Thomas. It’s worth noting that Russini said a trade appears “highly unlikely.” Still, if they are listening, then Thomas could be had for the right price.
What’s the right price? You’d have to imagine it would at least be a future first-round pick. Thomas has this year, plus two more years and a fifth-year option remaining on his contract. He’s almost 6-foot-3, 210 pounds with 4.3 speed. There are a lot of NFL teams that will have interest in Thomas because top receivers, especially young ones, never hit free agency.
Back to the Commanders. You probably already knew that Jayden Daniels was Thomas’s college quarterback for two seasons. He led all of college football with 17 touchdowns in 2023, the year Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. Washington would certainly have interest, right?
Yes and no. GM Adam Peters is already down second and fourth-round picks due to the trade for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Peters may not be willing to part with more, particularly a first-round pick, since he doesn’t have a second-round pick. Have you seen Washington’s defense? The Commanders need to keep adding young players to that group, especially at edge rusher and in the secondary.
However, players like Thomas rarely become available. Injuries have crushed Washington’s receiver room this season. Terry McLaurin is under contract for multiple seasons, but just turned 30. Deebo Samuel is a free agent at season’s end. A first-round pick for a potential No. 1 receiver, reuniting him with his good friend and college quarterback, is certainly worth checking into.
It’s unlikely that Thomas will be moved. It would not be a smart decision for the Jags, who are off to a solid start under Coen. But if they are indeed listening, Washington should be checking in on Thomas. It makes too much sense.