Brian Thomas Jr., Denver Broncos
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Brian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars warms up before the AFC Wild Card Playoffs against the the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos appear to be running out of options if their rumored pursuit of various veteran wide receivers this offseason is accurate, and Brian Thomas is the latest addition to that list of speculative swings and misses.
They have seen linked targets Kendrick Bourne and Romeo Doubs land with the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots, respectively, in free agency.
With most high-profile free agent additions off the board, Thomas seemed promising.
Broncos Get Major Brian Thomas Update
Brian Thomas Jr.
GettyBrian Thomas #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars on the field during warm-ups before a game.
The Broncos have been linked to Thomas as a speculative suitor for some time, with a recent report about the Jacksonville Jaguars’ willingness to entertain trade offers for the former 23rd overall pick reigniting the discussion.
However, as has been the case for the Broncos this offseason, the reality is different from what was previously reported.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter set the record straight.
“I’ve been told that the Jaguars are not interested in trading them. They’ve denied it repeatedly. His name continues to come up in social media circles, floated out there. And, again, for whatever reason, it doesn’t go away,” Schefter said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on March 10.
“Every indication that I’ve gotten back is that the Jaguars have no interest in moving on from Brian Thomas, despite all the speculation. That’s out there as for Brian Thomas.”
Thomas, 23, is coming off a down season.
He had 48 receptions for 707 yards and 2 touchdowns. However, he had an 87-1,282-10 line as a rookie. Despite similar body types, Thomas’ deep-threat skill set would be a fine compliment to the jumpball prowess that Broncos’ WR1 Courtland Sutton possesses.
He also profiles as a strong replacement for the lead role once Sutton moves on.
Insider Information Conflicting
GettyTrevor Lawrence #16 and Brian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars react against the Denver Broncos.
Schefter’s report, while relevant to the Broncos, comes on the heels of SportsNetwork New York’s Conor Hughes.
“Multiple sources telling SNY that Jacksonville is entertaining offers for Brian Thomas, their playmaking third-year wideout, who they drafted in the first round just a couple years ago,” Hughes said on March 9. “It’s not about being completely and totally blown away. In fact, multiple sources I talked to believe that something ultimately could get done for a price that is a bit more reasonable. It’s absolutely something worth monitoring.”
The Broncos would have to consider Thomas’ uneven two seasons so far, and whether the coaching staff change alone was the reason for his down campaign in 2025, before attempting to sway the Jaguars into a trade.
They also have plenty of incentive to resist that temptation.
Broncos Have Emerging Young WRs
Troy Franklin
GettyTroy Franklin #11 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after his receiving touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Broncos’ missing out on options like Bourne and Evans, who are older, or even a younger target like Doubs, is not necessarily a bad thing.
First, it keeps the Broncos from potentially overpaying players who are available for a reason.
Each of the receivers that the Broncos have missed on so far has age and or injury issues. Add that to their costly open-market deals, and the Broncos could have been on the hook for years to come for players they move on from much sooner than that.
It happened this offseason with 2025 free agent pickup Dre Greenlaw, though the Broncos baked such an outcome into his contract.
That would be more difficult with Thomas, who would also require draft capital to acquire.
The Broncos also have promising youngsters Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin, who all emerged in various ways during the 2025 season. Adding Thomas via trade could stunt the development of a trio that the Broncos have already invested in.