Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. remains off the trade block, but recent struggles have fueled speculation he could move by the Nov. 10 deadline.
The team has repeatedly said it has no plans to deal the former first-round pick. Yet performance issues in the past two games have drawn attention across the league.
Thomas recorded no catches in Weeks 5 and 6. He played just 15 offensive snaps in the first half of Sunday’s 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans in London and none after halftime.
He dropped a pass on the opening drive against Houston. A potential scoring play in the previous week ended with him stepping out of bounds before the catch.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano addressed the situation in a piece reviewing Week 6 takes. He labeled one claim not an overreaction: “Brian Thomas Jr. is going to be the next big-name WR traded ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.”
Graziano noted Thomas has dropped to third in the Jaguars’ wide receiver rotation behind Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers. Travis Hunter has also seen increased opportunities on offense.
The Jaguars entered the season after addressing drop issues from 2025 by acquiring Meyers in a trade and signing him to a long-term extension. Washington’s role has expanded, and extension talks with him occurred this offseason.
“The issue Thomas and other Jaguars receivers had with drops last season is one of the reasons Jacksonville felt the need to trade for the sure-handed Meyers and sign him to a long-term extension,” Graziano wrote.
“The Jaguars talked extension with (Parker) Washington this offseason and still could do one, though he’s setting the price higher with every stellar week. Thomas just might not fit in Jacksonville, and while the Jaguars have indicated they don’t have interest in trading him, the Cardinals were saying the same thing about Harrison as recently as two weeks ago. There are a lot of people around the league who believe Thomas could have a new home by the trade deadline. It’s a situation to monitor.”
Marvin Harrison Jr., another 2024 first-round receiver, was traded from the Arizona Cardinals to the Texans last week. That deal involved a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-rounder.
Thomas has nine receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown through six games this season. He posted 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 scores as a rookie in 2024 before totaling 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games last year.
Other reports have tempered the talk. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said the Jaguars have “shown no interest” in trading Thomas despite periodic inquiries. The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported the team does not have him on the trade block.
The Jaguars sit at 4-2 and lead the AFC South. Their receiving depth includes Washington, Meyers, Hunter, and rookie Josh Cameron.
Thomas remains under contract through 2027 on a relatively modest rookie deal. Any deal would require a significant offer, as the team views itself as a contender.
League interest could increase if another club becomes more aggressive before the deadline. For now, Jacksonville appears content to keep him on the roster.
