The start of the 2026 NFL Draft is just hours away, and the rumor mill is firing on all cylinders. With plenty of movement expected later tonight, trade talks are only going to continue to ramp up in the coming hours.
With very few picks being seen as certainties as of Thursday morning, chaos is set to ensue, and it's just a matter of time before one move sparks leaguewide ripple effects. The back half of the 1st round is widely reported to become especially busy, and one team is apparently willing to get aggressive in their hunt for another franchise cornerstone.
After trade talk from earlier in the offseason died down in the last few weeks, NBC Sports analyst Mike Florio dropped a bombshell report that the Jacksonville Jaguars have put wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on the trade block before the draft.
Per Florio:
“Last year, the Jaguars gave up this year’s first-round pick as part of the effort to move up three spots to get Travis Hunter. This year, the Jaguars may be using a prior first-round pick to get another one.
As the draft approaches, we’re told that the Jaguars may be trying to lay the foundation for a potential trade into the bottom of round one. The potential bait could include receiver Brian Thomas Jr.”
A potential league-altering trade
The Jaguars' first pick won't be until 56th overall, and for a team entering a contending window, that's a lot of talent to let come off the board before making a selection.
It makes sense that talks may be revitalizing surrounding the 23-year-old Thomas Jr., whose rookie production was nearly cut in half during a disappointing sophomore campaign that has him supposedly on the outs. The potential he frequently displayed in 2024, as well as at some points in 2025, should be more than enough to entice a handful of suitors.
He's a player worthy of betting on, and at his peak, he can completely change an offense. If he truly is being shopped in deals, a bidding war for his services could reshape the entirety of the 16-32 pick range of the NFL Draft order.
Where could Brian Thomas Jr. end up?
Philadelphia Eagles
With AJ Brown seemingly set to become a New England Patriot after June 1st, combined with a weak draft class overall, Philadelphia could look to acquire the high-upside wideout by trading the 23rd selection. If the board starts to fall in a way they don't like, maybe Howie Roseman continues his streak of aggressiveness by finding an immediate replacement for Brown in Thomas Jr.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City has 2 first round picks to play with, making it entirely possible that they might believe moving their latter selection for Thomas Jr. is a savvier option than sticking and picking. They have invested decent resources into their receiving corps in recent years, but adding the former top pick would make their offense that much more dangerous.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns have been seen as a likely landing spot for one of the draft's top receivers at either of their 2 picks tonight. With plenty of other needs to address, striking a deal for Thomas Jr. would give them flexibility to either trade down from #6 or stay there and take the best offensive lineman available. Either way, trade discussions could heat up heavily between the 2 sides as the clock continues to tick.
How a possible package involving Thomas Jr. could form, and if it actually comes to fruition, is still up in the air, but the situation has quickly become a top storyline to watch as the day progresses.
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