Could Brian Thomas Jr. be a legitimate trade target for Patriots this offseason?

New England Patriots

Brian Thomas Jr. recorded over 1,200 receiving yards in his first season with the Jags.

If the New England Patriots plan on getting back to the Super Bowl, they’re going to need to make life easier for Drake Maye moving forward.

The 23-year-old QB finished second in MVP voting in 2025, elevating a roster that few expected would surpass eight or nine wins at the start of the year. 

But, his limitations were on display during Super Bowl LX against Seattle.

Maye was put under duress due to a porous O-line, while a lack of dynamic weapons contributed to an offense that stagnated during the postseason. 

After New England ranked second in the NFL in points per game during regular-season action (28.8), the Patriots’ offense flatlined over four playoff games, averaging just 16.8 points per game. 

While New England is banking on Maye taking another step forward in Year 3 of his NFL career, the onus ultimately falls on the Patriots’ front office to upgrade New England’s arsenal of weapons.

As overachieving as New England’s pass-catching personnel was this season, New England could use a dynamic, No. 1 wideout capable of separating from coverage and bailing out Maye in critical situations.

Stefon Diggs (1,013 receiving yards) lived up to that WR1 billing in 2025, but he’ll also be 33 years old by the end of next season. 

Add in a quiet postseason (14 catches, 110 receiving yards in four games) and a hefty contract ($26.5 million cap hit in 2026) that could be augmented or outright scrapped in order to free up cap space — and there’s no guarantee that Diggs is even in the fold next season. 

But if New England does move on from Diggs, who could they turn their sights to this offseason in hopes of upgrading their offense?

A free-agent pickup like Alec Pierce would be a home-run hitter as a dynamic deep threat for Maye. But, the Colts wideout could be making over $25 million per year on his next deal, and there’s no guarantee that the Patriots win that bidding war.

A.J. Brown has often been linked to the Patriots given his ties to Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. But beyond the steep price of both prying him from the Eagles and taking on his sizable contract ($23.3 million cap hit in 2026), he’ll also be 29 years old at the start of the new season. 

New England will have to give to get if it wants to add a proven weapon to its offense this offseason. 

And if the Patriots are poised to cough up draft assets or cap space in the coming months to surround Maye with talent, a young wideout like Brian Thomas Jr. could make plenty of sense.

It remains to be seen if Thomas will realistically be dealt by the Jaguars this offseason, especially after just two years spent in the NFL ranks. But after a breakout rookie campaign with Jacksonville in 2024, the former LSU product could be on the outs after regressing under head coach Liam Coen in 2025. 

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz noted on Wednesday that a scenario where Jacksonville moves on from a player like Thomas may not be inconceivable.

“This idea would have seemed ridiculous a year ago after Thomas put up 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in his 2024 rookie campaign,” Schatz wrote. “But Thomas seemed to be on a completely different page from quarterback Trevor Lawrence last season, even as the rest of the Jaguars were having success around the wideout. Thomas’ production fell to 48 catches for 707 yards and two scores.

“The Jaguars have Travis Hunter coming back. They signed Jakobi Meyers to an extension. And Parker Washington had a breakout second half of the 2025 season,” Schatz added. “There’s room here to trade Thomas, and his talent could fetch a high draft pick to help make up for the picks the Jags lost when they traded up for Hunter in 2025. It’s certainly something worth considering.”

As startling as Thomas’ regression was in 2025, a Patriots offense anchored by a dynamic passer like Maye would receive a major lift with a wideout like Thomas added to the equation. 

Thomas was one of the top deep-threat targets in the NFL as a rookie, averaging 14.7 yards per catch in 2024. Even with his dip in production this past year, Thomas still averaged 14.7 yards per reception on a Jags team that went 13-4. 

As risky as it might be to buy a premium on a player coming off a down year, a 23-year-old wideout like Thomas who has already showcased his talent as a WR1 should still be a worthwhile investment for New England if he becomes available.

The Patriots would likely have to pay a steep price to bring in an asset in Thomas who — despite his recent struggles — has some proven production on his resume.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell mapped out a hypothetical trade between the Bills and Jaguars earlier this week, projecting that Buffalo could deal for Thomas in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and Keon Coleman.

Could New England match that offer with its own 2026 first-round pick (No. 31 overall), another draft pick, and a young player like DeMario Douglas or Kyle Williams? 

Again, it’s unclear if Thomas is even going to be entertained as a legitimate trade chip this spring.

But if such a scenario plays out, a Patriots team looking to get faster, younger, and more explosive should be the first in line to bid for Thomas’ services.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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