The Jacksonville Jaguars are no strangers to being on both the receiving and giving ends of trades. Just recently, they sent cornerback Tyson Campbell to the Cleveland Browns in return for Greg Newsome. And before that, the Jags shipped running back Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles. That's probably why nobody batted an eye when Dianna Russini of The Athletic broke the news that the Jags are listening to trade offers for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Granted, listening to offers doesn't mean Jacksonville is actively moving Thomas, but the fact that they're considering the possibility is certainly interesting when you take into account that, as recently as last year, the former LSU Tiger was on his rise to stardom. Heck, he earned comparisons to Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. That's how promising he looked his career looked in the offseason.
But fast forward to Week 8 of the regular season, and there may just be a realistic chance the Jags cut ties with Thomas in light of his recent struggles. Of course, they won't outright unload him. They'll look for a deal that can either help them address immediate needs or hoard draft picks for next year. This pitch accomplishes both.
The Jaguars trade Brian Thomas Jr. in return for K'Lavon Chaisson in this proposal
In her report, Dianna Rusinni points out that aside from listening to offers for Brian Thomas Jr., the Jaguars are also looking for potential reinforcements on defense. One area that is in dire need of a boost is the pass rush.
So far, the Jags have logged eight sacks this season. Now, sacks aren't the only way to measure a team's ability to get after the quarterback, but Jacksonville has most definitely struggled to bring the heat this season. There are a handful of reasons why.
Josh Hines-Allen has been neutralized, and Travon Walker is playing with a club while he recovers from a wrist injury. Compounding the issue is that Dawuane Smoot and Emmanuel Ogbah have been unremarkable in the rotation. So why not bring in a familiar face?
After an underwhelming stint with the Jaguars, K'Lavon Chaisson is enjoying a career resurgence, first with the Las Vegas Raiders and now the New England Patriots. Sure, it took him a while to hit his stride, but players' readiness is always variable, and perhaps Chaisson needed to be shown the door in Jacksonville and later get cut by the Carolina Panthers to put it all together. So, how much has he truly improved?
In four seasons with the Jags, Chaisson logged five sacks. He had as many, along with a pick, with the Raiders in 2024. Seven weeks into this season, he's already logged 4.5 in Foxboro, so it's a matter of time before he sets a new career record.
Chaisson is set to become a free agent after the season, and it's hard to tell if he'll be part of their long-term plans. The Jaguars should most definitely give them a call, as he could give their pass rush much-needed juice. He signed a $1.4 million contract, so he would most definitely fit their budget.
There's been chatter that the Patriots are looking for wide receiver help at the deadline. That's why they could be a realistic destination for Brian Thomas Jr. If New England is serious about getting him, Chaisson and a second-round selection should get a deal done.
Heck, a second-round pick may seem like too low after Thomas' jaw-dropping rookie campaign, but it looks like fair compensation when you take into account that he's struggling. If the Jaguars don't think the second-year receiver will bounce back, getting an early-round pick and a resurging pass rusher makes sense.