This time last season, it would’ve been unthinkable that the Jacksonville Jaguars would consider trading Brian Thomas Jr. The second-year wide receiver was a first-round pick in 2024 and immediately became an impact player for the team.
He had 87 catches for 1,282 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. It looked as if he’d be the next superstar wide receiver. However, this season hasn’t gone nearly as well. He leads the NFL with nine drops and hasn’t been nearly as productive in 2025.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Jaguars aren’t actively shopping Thomas, but they are taking trade calls on him. The addition of Travis Hunter makes him more expendable.
While a Thomas trade might still be unlikely, the Las Vegas Raiders should be one of the teams reaching out to Jacksonville. Jakobi Meyers recently reiterated his previous trade request from the offseason.
Meyers was the only high-volume wide receiver in the NFL last season to not drop a single pass. Replacing the wide receiver who is most likely to drop a pass with the wide receiver who is least likely should have some appeal to the Jaguars. That said, Meyers is much older than Thomas and on an expiring deal.
If the Raiders wanted Thomas, they’d have to sweeten the pot. A deal that sends Meyers and a conditional third-round pick that turns into a second-round pick based on playing time to the Jaguars for Thomas could make sense for both sides.
The Raiders get a young wide receiver who still has No. 1 upside, while the Jaguars get a really good and dependable No. 2 wide receiver, and also get a valuable draft pick.
Is Thomas Worth the Risk?
There are some concerns with Thomas. He looked like a future superstar last season, but his slumping hard in Year 2. Sophomore slumps are common in the NFL, so there’s a chance that he’s just dealing with that and could get back on track next year.
The Jaguars’ willingness to trade him is a bit of a red flag. It’s possible that there are more concerns about Thomas that the public isn’t privy to. The Raiders are likely to use an early draft pick on a wide receiver in next year’s draft, so why not add a proven player like Thomas, who is on a rookie deal instead? If he returns to rookie form, the Raiders would have their No. 1 wide receiver for the next several years.
Would It Be Wise for Raiders to Give up Draft Pick?
The Raiders need a lot of pieces, so giving up draft picks would be a tough pill to swallow. Kevin Patra of NFL.com believes that the team needs to focus on adding draft assets at the trade deadline.
“It’s time for the Raiders to think about the future,” Patra wrote. “At 74 years old, Pete Carroll might not want to endure a long rebuild, but an immediate turnaround isn’t happening with this crew. There are far too many holes to plug in the sinking ship. The O-line. The corners. The pass rush, sans Maxx Crosby. The receivers. Trading Crosby appears to be off the table (though if he were available, every team in the league should be calling). But sending Jakobi Meyers to a contender makes sense. Devin White has played well and will be a free agent next year. Vegas currently has six draft picks in 2026. This team must add more chips to build out a roster needing an infusion of talent.”
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