Mike Vrabel
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One trade idea could send Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Pundits have repeatedly linked the New England Patriots to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown the past couple weeks. But the Patriots don’t have to acquire Brown to upgrade their wide receiver room. Another Pro Bowler such as Brian Thomas Jr. could be that upgrade New England needs.
Heavy Sports proposed the Patriots offer their No. 31 overall selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Thomas.
A former first-round pick himself, Thomas made the Pro Bowl as a rookie during 2024. He registered 87 catches, 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to the NFL’s All-Star game.
But this past season, the Jaguars phased Thomas out of the offense a bit under new head coach Liam Coen. Thomas had 42 fewer target than his rookie season, catching just 48 passes for 707 yards with two touchdowns.
Why Patriots Should Pursue WR Brian Thomas Jr. Trade
If Thomas is available, there are several reasons the Patriots should be interested.
In the right offense, Thomas appears capable of being a No. 1 receiver next year. That’s something the Patriots need to add to be contenders again in the AFC and even their own division.
The Patriots announced releasing their 2025 leading receiver Stefon Diggs on March 4. Diggs was New England’s only wideout with even 600 yards last year.
In Jacksonville, 2023 sixth-round pick Parker Washington broke out to lead the Jaguars in receiving last season. Washington and Thomas received about the same amount of touches.
But at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the Jaguars acquired veteran Jakobi Meyers. Then in December, Jacksonville signed Meyers to a 3-year extension.
With Washington and Meyers, Thomas is potentially expendable.
Just a year removed from a Pro Bowl season, only 23 years old and still on an affordable rookie deal, Thomas will have a lot of value on the trade market.
Most pundits have speculated that Thomas would be worth a second-round pick on the trade market. But because the Patriots pick near the end of the first round, Heavy Sports decided to have New England include its first-rounder in the trade proposal.
Are Jaguars Interested in Shopping Brian Thomas Jr?
On paper, it makes sense for Jacksonville to make their 2024 first-round pick available in a trade. But that doesn’t mean the team will.
On Sunday, it actually sounded like the team very much wouldn’t move on from Thomas this offseason.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported “it would be a surprise” if the Jaguars traded Thomas.
“There’s been speculation that they could move him, but the Jags value the 2024 first rounder,” posted Jones on X.
Jacksonville.com’s Demetrius Harvey quote tweeted that post to confirm Jones was correct about the Jaguars not wanting to move Thomas.
“Correct. There is no desire to offload Brian Thomas Jr.,” wrote Harvey.
“The speculation has been drive by fantasy football.”
Correct. There is no desire to offload Brian Thomas Jr.
The speculation has been driven by fantasy football. Which is interesting. https://t.co/haMl4IM9wh
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) March 8, 2026
Interestingly, in another post on X, Harvey stated that anyone could be available at the right price. But Harvey then wrote the Jaguars’ price for Thomas “is way too high for teams to care” and called the trade speculation a “non-story.”
In NFL free agency, pundits and fans have learned to never say never. But it certainly sounds as though Thomas isn’t a trade candidate this offseason.