The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for another wide receiver to start the new league year. They swapped late-round picks with the Indianapolis Colts to acquire Michael Pittman Jr., giving him a contract extension as well. However, the Steelers’ receiver room could still use help. Rumors have swirled that Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. could be on the move. But general manager James Gladstone shut that down quickly when asked if he’s received any offers for Thomas.
“We haven’t, and there hasn’t been a ton of dialogue around that front,” Gladstone said Thursday via the team’s YouTube channel. “Teams check in simply because, I know the word reputable came up earlier, I don’t think there’s been any reputable statement. We don’t have any real action on any of those fronts.
“You think back to where we landed at the end of the season, where our passing attack was. We have no interest in disrupting the momentum. We look forward to continuing to build off where we left things and know that Brian Thomas is a big piece to that puzzle.”
Thomas was the Jaguars’ first-round pick in 2024, and he had a stellar rookie season, catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, Thomas took a major step back in 2025, only recording 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t look like the same player in Jacksonville’s new offensive system.
Still, he’s only 23 years old, and he’s under contract for at least the next two seasons. It seemed odd that the Jaguars would already give up on him. They’ve got other quality receivers, so they’d still have weapons without Thomas. That’s not always enough to move on from a talented young player, though.
The Jaguars were one of the AFC’s best teams in 2025, going 13-4 and winning their division. That includes winning their final eight regular-season games. As Gladstone says, the Jags looked like they found something. Getting rid of Thomas could hurt that.
Also, the Steelers might not want to trade for another receiver. They’ve got a lot of draft capital, but Thomas would likely cost more than Pittman. At some point, they must return to drafting and developing receivers. That’s part of why they were so successful in the 2010s.
Perhaps the Jaguars will be more open to dealing Thomas next year if he has another subpar season. However, don’t expect him to go anywhere anytime soon. The Steelers will have to look elsewhere to upgrade their receiver corps.
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