March 10, 2026, 11:35 a.m. ET
The New York Giants struck gold with the sixth pick in the 2024 NFL draft when LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers fell into their laps.
But Nabers wasn’t the only former Tigers rookie wideout to make a splash that year. His teammate in Baton Rouge, Brian Thomas Jr., the 23rd overall pick in Round 1, also had a smashing debut season.
Thomas (87) had fewer receptions than Nabers, who set an NFL rookie record for wide receivers in 2024 with 109, but Thomas had more yards (1,282-1,204) and just one fewer touchdown (six).
Two years later, the Jaguars are seeking to leverage Thomas in a trade after a huge drop-off in production last year. They took Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick last year, who bumped Thomas down the depth chart. Thomas, at 23, is suddenly expendable.
The Giants are looking for wide receiver help this offseason and could be in the market for Thomas’ services. But what would it take to land him?
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SNY’s Connor Hughes is reporting the Giants would likely have to surrender their second-round pick in this year’s draft (No. 37 overall) to lure Thomas away from Jacksonville.
A second-round pick would be costly for the Giants, who do not have a third-round pick in this draft, having traded it away last year in the deal to move up to select quarterback Jaxson Dart.
One can make the argument that they can sit out Day 2 of the draft and look at Dart and Thomas as their haul for those picks. Not bad, but still, this new regime might have other plans for that second-rounder.
