New Brian Thomas Jr. Trade Rumors as Jaguars Reportedly Eye Move Up in 2026 NFL Draft

Entering the 2026 NFL draft without a first-round pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars could make Brian Thomas Jr. available in a trade to secure a Day 1 selection.

Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the Jaguars might be "trying to lay the foundation" for a move into the back end of the first round by putting Thomas on the market.

The Athletic's Michael Silver, however, cast doubt on the possibility of the Jaguars moving off of Thomas Jr. to acquire a first-round pick:

There has been trade chatter around Thomas going back to the in-season deadline last November, though Jaguars officials have consistently dismissed the idea of dealing the 23-year-old.

General manager James Gladstone told reporters last month that any claims the Jaguars are looking to trade Thomas are "fraudulent" and they have not received any offers for him.

Jacksonville doesn't have a first-round selection after its draft-day trade with the Cleveland Browns last year to move up to No. 2 and select Travis Hunter. Its first pick is currently set to be at No. 56 overall, with four picks between that spot and No. 100.

The Jaguars' receiver room is a lot deeper now than it was at this point last year. Parker Washington had a breakout 2025, leading the team with 847 yards. Jakobi Meyers, acquired in a midseason trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, had 483 yards in nine games and earned a three-year contract extension in December.

Their pass-catching group looks strong enough that Hunter is expected to primarily play cornerback in 2026, but he will still getting a few reps at wide receiver.

Thomas, the No. 23 pick in the 2024 draft, was a star as a rookie with 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. He regressed last season with 707 yards and two touchdowns, while struggling with drop issues.

Even though Thomas struggled in 2025, his performance as a rookie combined with his age and having two more guaranteed years on his rookie contract plus the fifth-year option would seemingly make it easy for the Jaguars to get back a first-round pick if they make him available.