After a disappointing 25′ season, the only logical thing to do would be to trade your young receiver. Right?

How Did We Get Here?

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the offseason with many holes to fill after a successful first season of the Liam Coen era. One position group that has a plethora of talent is the wide receiver corps. Thomas, Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and a touch of Travis Hunter. Despite expectations of Thomas being the team’s wide receiver one, the former first-round pick in the 23′ draft seems to be an outcast within the offense. Rumors of Thomas being traded have been surfacing ever since people recognized that he didn’t look like the explosive rookie we once saw.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) reacts to a missed reception opportunity during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Texans 17-10.

You’re telling me the 6’2 receiver from LSU who led the nation in touchdowns and ran a 4.33 forty-yard dash fell to the 23rd pick? The Jaguars should feel as if the NFL gave them a gift! When you think about it, the rest of the league was probably face palming the entire year as Thomas finished with over 1,200 yards and ten touchdowns. He entered the 25′ season with insurmountable hype, being viewed as a future star under a new offensive coaching staff. However, the 25′ season went as poorly as it could have. A slump if you will.

Sophomore Slump?

It’s not uncommon for a player to struggle in their second season. Thomas had a major issue with drops, on top of not always completing his routes. This became problematic in an offense where it seemed to spread like a disease. The Jaguars were leading the league in drops, and answered the issue by trading for Meyers before the deadline. Add in Washington breaking out during the home stretch of the season, and you suddenly become a pass first offense. With that being said, Thomas doesn’t seem to have a talent issue, rather a lack of having a role.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) holds his head after a pass interference call during the second quarter in an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

LFor some odd reason, Thomas is better at catching the ball over his head rather than when it is in front of him. It’s why he had such a hard time making plays over the middle of the field, something he was asked to do far too often. Once Coen realized he wasn’t fitting in, the Jaguars pulled the trigger on trading for Meyers. The addition became the better first option for every pass play. During the trade deadline, Thomas’ name was thrown around NFL circles. Under a new regimen, was he falling out of order? Not buying in? It became a once short lived rumor that has grown legs once again.

End Of Brian Thomas Jr. Rant

Having a receiver who has proven he can perform at a high level, while being on a rookie contract, is quite the amenity. In a time where the wide receiver position is making north of $30 million at times (thanks Trent Baalke), it is important to capitalize on this window of his career. It’s unclear what the Jaguars could receive in return for Thomas. No offer feels realistic, nor fair. It seems that the typical offer the Jaguars receive would not include a first-round pick. This is an opportunity for teams to try to buy low on a stock that dipped unexpectedly, and is going to return to a much higher value.

What I’m trying to say is that a trade would be a huge mistake. We are led to believe that it won’t happen, with rumors of a trade being denied by Jaguars general manager, James Gladstone. The word “fraudulent” was used, meaning there a chance the Jaguars haven’t entertained anything in the slightest. If anything, the amount of attention Thomas has received should tell the Jaguars just how valuable he can be for the future of this offense, not as a trade asset.