Top Brian Thomas Jr. Trade Packages During 2026 NFL Draft

We have already seen a number of veteran players get traded this offseason, one get dealt and then un-dealt and heard rampant speculation regarding a number of others. After a disappointing 2025 season in which he caught just 48 passes for 707 yards and two scores, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been one of those subjects of trade speculation, although Jacksonville GM James Gladstone labeled reports Thomas could be dealt "fraudulent."

Despite those protestations, rumors regarding Thomas have fired back up, with one NFL executive telling The Athletic's Mike Sando that he wouldn't be surprised if Thomas is moved during this year's NFL Draft.

"The Brian Thomas situation is interesting," the exec said. "It's smart to hold onto him. He is too young to give up on that early. I could see him being moved on draft day, if people's favorite receivers get picked."

Before that down 2025, Thomas was fantastic as a rookie, catching 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. If he is made available during the draft, there are going to be multiple teams interested.

And Thomas is not going to come cheaply.

New York Jets

AP Photo/John Raoux

New York Jets Receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr, 2026 Round 3 Pick (100)

Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (16), 2026 Round 5 Pick (159), 2027 Round 2 Pick

The good news is that the New York Jets have two first-round picks in 2026—their own and the selection obtained from the Indianapolis Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade. The bad news is that in this draft class, neither of those picks are going to get the Jets a quarterback of the future.

Welcome to the Geno Smith experience. Gamesickness bags will be provided under every seat at MetLife Stadium for fans' convenience.

The Jets are loaded for bear to get that quarterback in 2027, with three first-rounders. In the interim, the team should be looking to improve the situation that quarterback will be walking into. And outside Garrett Wilson, the pass-catching corps in New York is among the NFL's weakest.

This price might seem steep given Thomas' down 2025 campaign. But we're talking about a 23-year-old receiver who has already had a better season than Wilson ever has who is under team control at a reasonable amount through at least 2027.

Assuming that Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson are off the board at No. 16, Thomas is ostensibly better than any of the wideouts who are available this year.

And who knows, with Wilson and Thomas out there, even Geno Smith might be marginally competent.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Cleveland Browns Receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (24), 2026 Round 4 Pick (107)

This would be a tad ironic—after all, the 24th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft originally belonged to the Jaguars. But that pick was sent to Cleveland as part of Jacksonville's move up to select Travis Hunter in 2025.

Now, Bleacher Report's own Brent Sobleski believes it's time to send that pick back to Duval County.

"The Browns desperately need a wide receiver, with the inconsistent Jerry Jeudy serving as the squad's top threat," he wrote. Thomas can immediately enter Cleveland's lineup as WR1 and give whoever is at quarterback a quality target, particularly in the vertical game. General manager Andrew Berry should look at the situation and realize Thomas is only 23 years old and the Browns aren't going to get a better wide receiver with the draft pick they currently hold. Besides, the market demands a first-round pick in return after the Denver Broncos surrendered one for Jaylen Waddle, who is four years older than Thomas."

In related news, my guy Sobo knows stuff.

The Browns, like the Jets, are sitting on two first-round picks with no chance at a quarterback with either (Hey, maybe Shedeur (giggle) Sanders is the guy). Like the Jets, the Browns need to improve the passing-game weapons, or it won't matter who is under center.

Trade for Thomas, and the Browns can add an offensive tackle at No. 6 overall. Or go best player available.

Caleb Downs would look good in orange and brown. Just saying.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Ian Walton

New England Patriots Receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr., 2026 Round 5 Pick (166)

Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (31), 2026 Round 3 Pick (95), 2026 Round 4 Pick (No. 131)

OK, enough tomato cans. Let's make things a little more interesting—with a trade to another contender in the AFC.

The New England Patriots aren't just a contender in the AFC, they are the contender—the defending conference champion. The team has already made some effort to strengthen the receiving corps, bringing over Romeo Doubs in free agency. But as Darren Hartwell wrote for NBC Sports Boston, adding Thomas to the mix would give the pats a potential No.1 wide receiver—at a deep discount in terms of salary.

"Thomas was a bona fide field stretcher for Jacksonville as a rookie, racking up 18 catches of 20 yards or more (seventh-most among NFL receivers) while averaging 14.7 yards per reception," he said. "If all he needs is a change of scenery -- Thomas also would be reuniting with a fellow LSU alum in Boutte -- Thomas has all the physical skills to thrive with Maye as his quarterback. Thomas still has two years left on his rookie deal, as well, and has a combined cap hit of less than $9 million over the next two seasons ($4 million in 2026; $4.6 million in 2027)."

There's a window open for the Patriots now with quarterback Drake Maye on his rookie deal, but that window isn't going to stay open forever.

While it is, the team should go for broke--especially after the Denver Broncos raised the stakes in the AFC with the Jaylen Waddle trade.

Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Washington Commanders Receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (7)

The 2025 season was a disaster for the Washington Commanders. After making a surprise run to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, the team imploded—injuries blasted the roster, the defense was terrible and the team won just five games.

Now the Commanders are in the midst of a pivotal offseason as Jayden Daniels prepares for Year 3 of his professional career. The team has multiple needs on both sides of the ball—including a wide receiver to pair with Terry McLaurin (Lotta lonely Ohio State wideouts in the NFL this year).

SI's Caleb Skinner sees a trade for Thomas as one way to fill that need.

"Thomas would be the perfect complement to Terry McLaurin" Skinner wrote. "McLaurin is a do-it-all wideout with elite route running ability, so adding a weapon like BTJ, who stands 6'4", would give Jayden Daniels a huge deep threat who can take the top off of defenses. A combo of McLaurin, Thomas Jr., and an elite rookie or the emergence of Treylon Burks or Luke McCaffrey would give the Commanders one of the most gifted receiving corps, matching up with the likes of the Dallas Cowboys' combo of George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb and the Philadelphia Eagles' pair of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith."

If the Jaguars are serious about trading Thomas, Pick No. 7 is about as good as it's going to get.

If the Commanders believe that the 2024 version of Thomas is the "real" one, it can be argued he's worth it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr., 2026 Round 5 Pick (164)

Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (15), 2026 Round 4 Pick (116)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the midst of a critical offseason. From 2020 to 2024, the Buccaneers made the playoffs in five straight seasons. From 2021 to 2024, Tampa won the NFC South four straight times. But after starting the 2025 season 6-2, Tampa Bay imploded after their bye week last year—the team went 2-7 the rest of the way and failed to make the postseason.

There are also big changes on the Gulf Coast in 2026. After a dozen seasons in Tampa that included an NFL-record 11 straight years with over 1,000 receiving yards, Mike Evans joined the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. The Buccaneers still have veteran Chris Godwin and youngster Emeka Egbuka at wideout, but Godwin is a 30-year-old coming off back-to-back injury-marred seasons, and Egbuka cooled off considerably last year after a torrid start to his rookie campaign.

Making a move this expensive for Thomas would be a bold play and one with more than a little risk—wide receiver is far from the only need on Tampa's roster. But adding Thomas would replace the big-bodied boundary receiver the team lost when Evans departed, and the reality is that while the Buccaneers have a window in a winnable NFC South, that window may not stay open much longer with young teams like the Carolina Panthers seemingly on the rise.

Los Angeles Rams

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Los Angeles Rams Receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr., 2026 Round 4 Pick (124)

Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (13), 2026 Round 3 Pick (93), 2027 Round 4 Pick

This last one should be enough to make the rest of the NFC throw up.

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead has been known to work with former proteges on blockbuster trades in the past. Back in 2021, the first transaction that Detroit Lions GM (and former Rams Director of college scouting) Brad Holmes made was to send quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams for Jared Goff and a package that included two first-round picks.

That trade helped propel the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl LVI. Now, former Rams Director of scouting strategy James Gladstone is the general manager in Jacksonville. And a trade for Thomas could lead to a win in Super Bowl LXI.

Yes, the Rams already have a formidable duo of wide receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. But it has been a bumpy offseason for Nacua off the field, and Adams is 33 and missed three games last year.

Adding Thomas to the wideout corps in Los Angeles would give the Rams a terrifying trio of pass-catchers in the short-term and a potential replacement for Adams in the long-term—one the Rams don't necessarily need to cut a fat check to for some time.

We've already seen Snead flip one first-rounder for a veteran this offseason—and his track record of doing is long.

What's one more?