Why The Jaguars Shouldn’t Trade Brian Thomas Jr. Despite His Struggles

Trade speculation surrounding Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has resurfaced amid his sophomore slump and struggles with drops. A former first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas was rumored to be on the trade block during the offseason. However, Jacksonville never dealt him and general manager James Gladstone said in March that Thomas would be a huge piece of this year’s offense.

Since then, rumors have come back and intensified after Thomas’ struggles against the Houston Texans in Week 6, when he recorded two drops and was benched for the entire second half after playing 15 snaps in the first half. In the last two games, he has five targets for no receptions, yards or touchdowns.

As the NFL trendline approaches, here are two reasons why Jacksonville should not trade Brian Thomas Jr.:

Don’t Give Up On Homegrown Talent

Since their inception in 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars have drafted talented players in the first round, only to see them walk out the door. Jalen Ramsey, Dante Fowler Jr. and Leonard Fournette are among the notable examples.

Jacksonville traded former first-round pick Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. The Jaguars used those assets to draft players who are no longer with the team and never found a replacement for Ramsey’s impact in the secondary. Ramsey would go on and win Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in 2021.

In 2025, Jacksonville traded up for two-way star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick. While he offers a great level of potential, Ramsey’s trade should remind them that a trade does not guarantee a productive player in return.

Thomas, meanwhile, has already shown what he is capable of at the NFL level. As a rookie in 2024, he earned a Pro Bowl nod after recording 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. Though his drops have been a huge issue for Jacksonville, his prior production is a strong reason to keep him around.

On film, Thomas continues to show effort. You still see a player that runs routes at full speed, gets open and blocks in the running game, which is key to see if a receiver is checked out. From Week 13 through the Wild-Card round loss last season, he recorded 20 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns after coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him for three weeks.

When healthy and given targets, Thomas has shown his ability to be one of the more productive receivers in the NFL. Jacksonville should assess all alternatives before making a deal of this magnitude.

Jaguars Must Get Brian Thomas Jr. Involved

Standing at 6-foot-2, weighing 209 pounds and running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, Brian Thomas Jr. has the measurable traits teams look for in a modern-day receiver. His combination of size and speed gives him a matchup advantage over defensive backs and creates favorable matchups on the outside.

In an offense led by Liam Coen play-caller and quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Thomas is a special piece alongside receivers Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers, tight end Brenton Strange and running back Bhayshul Tuten, because of his ability to take the top off of defenses.  

As a rookie, his average depth of target was third-most in the NFL, around 11.9 to 13 yards for 465 receiving yards on deep passes of 20-plus air yards. Last season, after the trade for Jakobi Meyers, he ran over 30% of his routes deep.

Meyers believes it is only a matter of time before Thomas’ physical attributes translate to his play.

“[Brian Thomas Jr.] will be okay. When you have talent like he has, it always works itself out,” Meyers said.

This season, Thomas has 20 targets, the fourth-most on the Jaguars, for nine receptions, 105 yards and a touchdown. However, his production has dipped the last two games and head coach Liam Coen has to find a way to get Thomas more targets. 

After Jacksonville’s loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, quarterback Trevor Lawrence stated that the Jaguars need to involve Thomas more in the offense.

“We have to keep finding opportunities to get [Brian Thomas Jr.] shots at the ball. We need to get him involved more, and we’re going to need him. I’m excited for the opportunity moving forward to do that,” Lawrence said.

End Of My Brian Thomas Jr. Rant

As the season approaches its midpoint, Jacksonville sits atop the AFC South with a 4-2 record and faces a tough stretch after their bye, with AFC South foe the Indianapolis Colts up first. That said, Jacksonville cannot afford to lose a weapon in Brian Thomas Jr. History shows that even great receivers can struggle early in their careers. Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Tony Gonzalez both dealt with drops early before establishing themselves as one of the best to ever do it.

Rice dropped 10 passes in his first 11 games as a rookie and was labeled a bust before gaining confidence from teammates and San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh, who said Rice would be the best player to ever play the game. Gonzalez also struggled with drops after having a promising rookie season and described his sophomore slump as a “Get Got” moment. After that season, he went on to record at least 60 receptions in each of the next 15 seasons.

I believe if Thomas can regain the confidence of his rookie season and not allow the immense pressure he is under to overtake him on the field, he will return to his rookie form. Jacksonville should give him the opportunity to prove why he was highly touted coming out of LSU rather than give up on him so soon.