The Buffalo Bills have what might be best described as an incomplete passing attack. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone claiming the Bills have a no-doubt-about-it WR1. We’ve been told that’s by design,
with last season’s introduction of the “everybody eats” mantra. It worked well last season, culminating in quarterback Josh Allen winning his first NFL MVP award.
Through seven games of the 2025 season Josh Allen hasn’t looked like his usual superhuman self. There have been moments in each game, but overall Allen appears frustrated, confused, and out generally out of sorts in moments he’d otherwise dominate opponents. Some of that is due to the receiving options, where too many players fail to separate at any point on the field.
That brings us to Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who may or may not (source dependent) be available via trade. This news first came to light with a report by Dianna Russini of The Athletic on October 25. Now, just two days later, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen claims there are “no plans” to trade Thomas, per a report by Jordan Schultz.
Thomas was a player widely scouted ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, and someone who enticed Bills Mafia as a player sent to One Bills Drive in fruitful mock drafts (notably by yours truly in one key SB Nation mock). Landing Thomas was viewed as a situation of fortuitous luck more than one steeped in reality. He was undoubtedly one of the most coveted receivers in his draft class, yet he fell to 23 due to draft board circumstance — just five picks before Buffalo’s original selection at 28.
Whether or not Beane and company made efforts to trade up for the opportunity to draft Thomas is uncertain. We know that the Bills ultimately traded out of 28 with the Kansas City Chiefs, then back again out of Round 1 altogether to land wide receiver Keon Coleman with the first pick of Round 2. It was a move widely questioned at the time, namely due to who the Chiefs picked in wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Many were disappointed that the Bills didn’t manage to trade up (or try, who knows) for Thomas. It’s likely most would be on board with bringing him in now to help improve a wide receivers room in need of top-tier talent. But at what cost?
That’s the big question, where the Jaguars reportedly need defensive help. Does a trade of talent between the Bills and Jaguars make sense? If so, who (among those healthy) might Buffalo move on from on defense that Jacksonville would view as a worthy trade option? It’s fairly unusual for a team to move on from a first-round draft pick after just a bit over one season.
As a rookie, Thomas caught 87 passes (133 targets) for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns; he added six rushes for 48 yards. Through seven games in 2025, Thomas has 27 receptions (55 targets) for 365 yards and one touchdown; adding two rushes for 16 yards and one touchdown. His career catch rate (114 catches on 188 targets) does stand out as an area that might raise some concern. He’s struggled with drops, tied for second in the NFL with five in 2025.
But, if Coen is to be believed Thomas isn’t leaving Duval county, and the team remains confident in him as a member of the Jaguars. It would be surprising to see Jacksonville willingly send a top pick to an AFC rival, but look at the situation with Micah Parsons and Jerry Jones.
What are your thoughts? Do you see this as a bunch of smoke or do you believe this trade has real potential? Who, or what in terms of potential future draft picks, would you be comfortable seeing Beane deal away?
