New England Patriots
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New England Patriots
The 2026 NFL draft is almost upon us, and several analysts are predicting trade packages for playmakers before that. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport has the New England Patriots listed as one of the teams that could swing a potential deal for Jacksonville Jaguars star Brian Thomas Jr.
Patriots could be in line to make a splash before the draft, and Thomas could still be on the market. The Jaguars have recently stated that they have no interest in trading him. Nevertheless, the Patriots could be one of the teams that could hypothetically get a deal done. Davenport listed the conditions of the trade in his article.
New England Patriots Receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr., 2026 Round 5 Pick (166)
Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (31), 2026 Round 3 Pick (95), 2026 Round 4 Pick (No. 131)
Trade Could Benefit Patriots In Big Way
This trade would definitely make sense for the Patriots on multiple levels. For one, they still need a playmaker with high upside. The team did address their wide receiver room, signing Green Bay Packers wideout Romeo Doubs in March. Doubs should be able to provide the Patriots with a playmaker, something that the wide receiver unit desperately needs.
Thomas is coming off a 2025 season that saw him record 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 14.7 yards per catch. The LSU product was also efficient after the catch, recording 170 yards in total after catching the ball.
With that being said, he did suffer some injury problems in 2025. He missed three games mid-season due to a hamstring injury. He saw his production depth as a whole, as the Jaguars’ red zone offense lacked efficiency. With that being said, he was able to find a better production in the playoffs. He reported two receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Matchup.
Patriots Could Benefit From A Thomas Rebound
Even in a down year, he could end up being a one or two option for the Patriots. His statistics from last season would have made him the number two receiver behind Stefon Diggs in terms of production. As far as how he would fit onto this year’s roster, he would undoubtedly become the top target. This would allow Doubs to take over the number two role, one that he is more comfortable with. He played the second wide receiver role with the Packers throughout the course of his career.
Davenport’s trade would certainly be a realistic option. This would probably mean that the Patriots would be out on the likes of A. J. Brown. However, he could provide a bit of a younger option and have team control. Thomas Jr. is currently playing on his rookie contract and has team control up until the 2027 season. This could allow the Patriots to work out a hypothetical deal.
This trade would certainly not be the worst in the world. After all, the Patriots would have to give up something in order to get something. Thomas Jr could be the spark plug needed for quarterback Drake Maye and the rest of the offense. The asking price does not seem too extreme in this scenario and the Patriots could benefit from him immediately.