Getty
Bills WR Keon Coleman
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offseason was always going to revolve around creativity. But not many expected it to involve a potential blockbuster involving one of the franchise’s most talented young receivers.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a deal that would send Brian Thomas Jr. and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for Keon Coleman and Buffalo’s 2026 first-round pick (No. 26 overall).
On paper, moving a superstar receiver two seasons into his career sounds unthinkable. But Jacksonville’s situation isn’t typical.
Why Brian Thomas Jr. is even in this conversation
GettyJags WR Brian Thomas Jr.
When Jacksonville drafted Brian Thomas Jr., the expectation was that he’d become a foundational piece of the passing game. His rookie season suggested exactly that. Year 2, however, told a different story.
As Barnwell pointed out: “Thomas never really seemed comfortable in Coen’s offense… After a massive rookie campaign, Thomas didn’t have a single 100-yard game in Year 2 and topped 70 receiving yards three times. Bottom line: The production wasn’t there, and things didn’t get better as the season went along.”
Most notably, despite Travis Hunter missing the final 10 games, Thomas’ production declined as the season went on, bottoming out with two catches for 21 yards (one a touchdown) in Jacksonville’s wild-card loss to Buffalo Bills.
And now, the Jags receiver room is suddenly crowded.
Jakobi Meyers earned an extension after a strong half-season
Parker Washington became the team’s most consistent target late in the year
Travis Hunter is expected to be healthy heading into next season and play offense situationally as well
That combination creates a complicated hierarchy… One that Thomas hasn’t firmly claimed the top role of.
Why the deal makes sense
GettyJags WR Brian Thomas Jr.
For the Buffalo Bills, the proposal is straightforward… They need a true No. 1 receiver for Josh Allen.
Buffalo’s own young receiver, Keon Coleman, hasn’t secured that role, and public criticism from team leadership has raised doubts about his long term future. Thomas, meanwhile, fits perfectly. He would also only cost $2.1M in 2026 and $2.8M in 2027.
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, however, it’s not as straightforward…
As Barnwell outlined, “The Jags also don’t have their first-round pick in 2026 after trading it to the Browns as part of the Hunter deal,” Barnwell wrote. “Thomas would be their most realistic way to get that missing first-rounder back. Getting the pick back just for the sake of it doesn’t mean much, but if the Jags don’t see Thomas as a focal point of their offense, the best time to make a move would be now.”
The proposed return would allow Jacksonville to add cost-controlled talent at another position while taking a low-risk flier on Keon Coleman, who is owed just $3.8 million total over the next two seasons.
This isn’t a conversation about whether Brian Thomas Jr. can play, everyone already knows he can. It’s about whether Jacksonville’s offense will ever consistently feature the kind of receiver he is.
This proposal forces the Jags to answer a franchise-level question: Is Brian Thomas Jr. a future star, or a talented player in the wrong offense?
Garrett Klaus Garrett Klaus is a NFL contributor at Heavy.com, where he covers the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Carolina Panthers. More about Garrett Klaus
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