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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. recorded 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024.
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he Jacksonville Jaguars are hungrier than ever entering 2026. Finishing 13-4, their most wins in a season since 1999, the Jaguars returned to the playoffs after a multi-year absence and were primed for a Super Bowl run. But their promising season came crashing down in the AFC wild card playoffs, sending the franchise back to the drawing board. But the good thing about the ’25 season is it set a strong foundation for the Jaguars to build off of for the future.
There are still some questions that the Jaguars need to answer though. Regressing after a strong rookie season, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. struggled to re-emerge as the team’s top receiver in his sophomore campaign, catching only 48 passes for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Through Thomas’ struggles, and heading into the offseason, rumors started to swirl that the team could look to trade Thomas. After all, he was drafted by the prior regime, and the Jaguars could try and capitalize on a big return from a potential trade. But general manager James Gladstone offered an update on any Thomas Jr. trade rumors, suggesting that the team will hold onto him– at least for 2026.
Gladstone on Thomas Jr. Trade Rumors: ‘Fraudulent Claims’
Jacksonville Florida Times-Union reporter, Demetrius Harvey, wrote an article late last week and provided an update on where things stand between the Jaguars and a potential Thomas Jr. trade. And Gladstone spoke candidly on the matter, going as far as to say that the claims about a potential trade are ‘fraudulent.’
“The word reputable came up earlier. I don’t think there’s been any reputable statement,” Gladstone said.
Trading Thomas Jr. would certainly leave a hole in the Jaguars’ receiving room, but with Jakobi Meyers signed for the long haul, Travis Hunter set to return and incoming fourth year receiver Parker Washington emerging as a star, the team moving off from Thomas Jr., should they opt to, would not be detrimental.
Thomas Jr.’s Career Thus Far
A star at LSU, where he ended the 2023 season as the NCAA receiving touchdowns leader, Thomas Jr. was drafted 23rd overall by the Jaguars in the 2024 draft– giving them a foundational type player to build around. And as a rookie, Thomas Jr. quickly lived up to expectations, catching 87 passes (133 targets) for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games. Earning Pro Bowl and All-Rookie team honors, Thomas Jr. entered last season as the clear-cut No. 1 receiving option– even with the team drafting Hunter.
But new head coach Liam Coen brings a slightly different scheme that Thomas Jr. struggled to fit into last season. If he can bounce back in 2026 though, then the Jaguars’ offense is lethal.
Dylan Grausz A lifelong sports fan, Dylan channels his passion for sports into being a journalist, where his primary goal is to provide readers with content that they love to read. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Dylan’s love for the Warriors, 49ers and Giants runs deep, having the ultimate dream of being a beat reporter for one of those teams. More about Dylan Grausz
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