5 Trade Landing Spots That Would Rejuvenate Brian Thomas Jr.'s NFL Career

The Jacksonville Jaguars may be off to a hot start, but Brian Thomas Jr. remains mired in a slump. Hopes for BTJ to return to his elite rookie ways are quickly dissipating, leading to speculation that the Jags might elect to trade the once-promising wideout.

Although the Jags reportedly turned down "significant" trade offers for Thomas last year, they may not be so quick to rebuff any suitors that emerge in the coming weeks.

After recording a modest 80 yards on six catches over the first two weeks, Thomas had his worst outing yet in Week 3. After he logged a team-high nine targets in Week 2's defeat to the Denver Broncos, the Jags abandoned efforts to get the wideout involved. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence sent just one target the receiver's way on Sunday.

While Thomas has been struggling, the Jags have been thriving. Following a statement 35-6 victory over the New England Patriots, Jacksonville moved to 2-1 and is once again sitting atop the AFC South standings.

With wideouts like Parker Washington (15 catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns) and Jakobi Meyers (10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns) picking up the slack, Thomas can be considered expendable. Shipping the 2024 first-round pick off for draft capital and/or players who can contribute to the team's current Super Bowl push is shaping up to be the best outcome for all parties.

The Jags have until the November 10 trade deadline make a decision on Thomas, but they may want to expedite moving the receiver before his value further plummets. BTJ has proven he can be a superstar-level talent in the NFL during an 87-catch, 1,282-receiving yard, 10-touchdown rookie season, but a disappointing 48/707/2 line in 2025—coupled with his performance over the first three weeks of 2026—has severely hindered his stock.

With that in mind, here's a look at five landing spots that would benefit Thomas most and allow him to rejuvenate his declining career.

San Francisco 49ers

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Brian Thomas Jr. could become the next in a growing line of NFL castoffs to rehabilitate their career under San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. It could be a mutually beneficial trade, as the Niners need the wide receiver as much as he needs a change of scenery.

The 49ers have become downright desperate for serviceable bodies after a rash of injuries ravaged their roster throughout training camp and the start of the 2026 campaign. The receiving corps has been hit particularly hard, with Mike Evans becoming the most recent San Francisco pass-catcher to pick up an injury.

While Evans is considered day-to-day with a rib issue, the Niners have no insurance plan if they lose another wideout for an extended stretch. Ricky Pearsall is out for the season with a PCL injury, while rookie De'Zhaun Stribling will be out another two-plus months after suffering an ankle injury in the opener. DeMarcus Robinson landed on the IR last week due to a high-ankle sprain and Christian Kirk has yet to make his San Francisco debut due to a calf issue. 

Considering Deebo Samuel, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins and Khadarel Hodge are the only remaining healthy wideouts on the 49ers' roster, the team should be rushing to make a splash in the trade market. Taking Thomas off Jacksonville's hands may be risky, but it's also a high-reward maneuver that could pay dividends if the receiver eventually shines in Shanahan's offense.

It might take some time for Thomas to get brought up to speed in the system and build rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy, but the potential payoff of having another legitimate No. 1-caliber wideout in the fold come playoff time is worth the cost.

Los Angeles Rams

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The Los Angeles Rams aren't looking like the heavy Super Bowl favorite they opened the 2026 NFL season as. With the team off to an ugly 1-2 start and injuries mounting, a trade for underperforming but potential-laden wideout Brian Thomas Jr. seems far more palatable than it did at the onset of the campaign.

Puka Nacua was a major part of L.A.'s success in 2025, but the two-time Pro Bowler hasn't suited up since Week 1 due to a groin injury. While Davante Adams is still healthy, the team has been forced to lean on depth options such as unheralded sophomore Ko nata Mumpfield and veteran Tutu Atwell to try and generate passing offense.

Contractual issues are complicating Nacua's absence, as the wideout is playing out the final season of his rookie deal without an extension and may be reticent to rush back into action—risking reinjury and hurting his market value. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio has speculated that Nacua would "quite possibly" be playing if he had received a second deal this offseason.

With Nacua seemingly erring on the side of caution and the lackluster depth behind the superstar at the WR position, the Rams stand to heavily benefit from a Thomas trade. He not only has potential to be a complementary star next to Adams when Nacua is sidelined, but could also work as one of the league's top WR3s if L.A.'s receiving corps returns to full strength.

Perhaps most importantly, Thomas could slot into the organization's long-term plans.

Despite his struggles over the past season-plus, Thomas won't turn 24 until October 8 and has yet to reach his peak in the NFL. He could emerge as the ideal running mate for Nacua in the Rams' receiving corps once the team transitions into a new era without aging stars like Adams and quarterback Matt Stafford.

The upside for Thomas to not only greatly help the Rams contend in 2026, but also well beyond makes him worth the cost of admission. For a capital-strapped club that is all-in on lifting the Lombardi Trophy this year but still has aspirations to contend well into the future, there's hardly a better to move to be made.

New England Patriots

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The New England Patriots should be in panic mode after they were on the receiving end of a Jacksonville Jaguars' shellacking on Sunday. The loss dropped the team to 1-2. with the passing offense looking particularly abysmal for the third consecutive week.

With marquee offseason acquisition A.J. Brown on the shelf with a high-ankle sprain for several more weeks, the Pats shouldn't hesitate to make a bold trade for Brian Thomas Jr. to shore up the receiving corps.

The depth that New England appeared to have going into the 2026 NFL season hasn't materialized, with veterans like Mack Hollins (12/156/0 on 16 targets) and Romeo Doubs (6/145/0 on 11 targets) underwhelming in expanded roles.

The departures of veteran star Stefon Diggs—who led New England with 85 catches and 1,013 receiving yards last year—and deep threat Kayshon Boutte (33/551/6 in 2025) are being sorely felt around Foxboro. While Brown can still be the No. 1 this offense sorely needs when he returns from IR, quarterback Drake Maye desperately needs more weapons to get back to playing at an MVP level.

Although the Pats managed to bottle up Thomas when they faced him in Week 3, the coaching staff has assuredly seen the wideout's tremendous rookie tape and is aware of his upside.

A change of scenery, as well as working with one of the game's best young signal-callers, could be all BTJ needs to get his career back on track.

Las Vegas Raiders

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The Las Vegas Raiders have become unexpected contenders in wake of a sizzling 3-0 start to the 2026 NFL season. Although it initially seemed like this rebuilding club would be one of the league's sellers during the leadup to the trade deadline, Vegas now has to give serious credence to using draft capital to bring in assets like Brian Thomas Jr. to help with a playoff push.

The Raiders have struck gold with veteran Kirk Cousins leading their offense, but there is still room for improvement. Vegas' wideouts in particular stand out for not playing up to the same level the rest of this offense has achieved.

Although four players on the team have recorded at least 10 catches, 87 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown, Tre Tucker (11/189/1 on 15 targets) is the only wide receiver to stand amongst that group. Jalen Nailor has been the Raiders' second-most prolific wideout, but he's only contributed a modest five catches for 52 yards on his 11 targets. Cody White leads the team with three touchdown catches, but has just three total catches on the year.

There is plenty of room for another receiver in Sin City, with Thomas making sense to fill that role.

Although Cousins has completed 67.4 percent of his throws for 661 yards and a league-high nine touchdowns over the first three weeks, he could be even more prolific with a true No. 1 wideout in the fold.

At his best, Thomas showed he can handle a feature role thanks to a rare blend of size, speed, athleticism and catching ability. Although he hasn't consistently displayed that talent since the end of his rookie campaign, the potential for him to return to form in Klint Kubiak's offense is truly alluring.

If the Raiders can get the 23-year-old wideout without mortgaging too much of their promising future, they shouldn't hesitate to make the move.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have proven to be a surprisingly plucky team in 2026, moving to 2-1 after a big Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. While the club is now atop the AFC North standings, every team in the division boasts the same record and has a real chance at claiming the crown.

Because of how fierce this AFC North race is shaping up to be, the Steelers can't afford to rest on their laurels and must add more firepower. Aaron Rodgers has looked far more like a 43-year-old gritting through his final NFL season than the perennial MVP candidate of yore, but bolstering his weapons could help change that.

Brian Thomas Jr. could be the best bang for Pittsburgh's buck, providing them with a potential WR1 at a budget cost.

The Steelers' receiving corps has been lackluster outside of Roman Wilson, who surprisingly paces the unit with 11 catches, 114 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown on the year. D.K. Metcalf has been particularly disappointing—catching just 11 of his team-high 24 targets for 98 yards and a touchdown on the year—while key offseason pickup Michael Pittman Jr. (5/74/0 in the two games he's suited up for) looks washed.

With every wideout outside of Wilson failing to meet even modest expectations, Pittsburgh's brass must make a bold move on the trade market. Thomas may not be succeeding with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his best football should still be ahead him. Getting to play with a 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback within an offense that is desperate for pass-catching assistance may be exactly what BTJ needs to turn things around.

At worst, the Steelers cough up a bit of capital for yet another underwhelming wideout who fails to pan out for them. At best, Thomas becomes the new No. 1 WR in Pittsburgh's offense and retains that role for multiple seasons.

A Thomas trade is worth the risk and could pay massive dividends for a Steelers squad looking to take the next step after years of mediocrity.