Here’s why a trade for Brian Thomas Jr. would be a home run move for the Patriots

COMMENTARY

No two names have dominated the Patriots’ rumor mill greater than Alec Pierce and A.J. Brown over the primary few weeks of the NFL offseason. And for good purpose.

Brown has seemingly been a dream commerce candidate for the higher a part of two years, and that was heightened when Mike Vrabel took over the keys to Foxborough this time final yr. Pierce, then again, exploded in 2025 together with his most efficient season of professional ball, immediately turning into one of many high free brokers this offseason.

Both of these names would make New England’s receiver room multitudes higher. However one different identify has been thrown round which may simply be much more intriguing: Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas is just coming into his third season within the NFL. Few gamers are ever traded on their rookie contracts, and contemplating what Thomas’s rookie yr appeared like, he’d be a simple receiver to gamble on for the Patriots.

New England nonetheless has Drake Maye on a rookie contract. Including Thomas, who eclipsed 1,300 scrimmage yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2024 and is just on the books for $4 million in 2026 (per Over The Cap), would give Vrabel and Eliot Wolf a ton of flexibility to stack the roster round their younger core and make one other playoff run.

Thomas’s deal is actually home cash. Even when he by no means returns to his rookie type, he solely has two extra years on his deal at a low price, and that isn’t counting if the Patriots choose up his fifth-year choice. They’d nonetheless have sufficient cap accessible so as to add a receiver alongside him in the event that they wanted to lower his workload.

Then again, if he instantly explodes in yr three, they’d nonetheless have a complete yr left to barter an extension with Thomas with out the concern of dropping him in free company.

In fact, Thomas wasn’t a greater receiver than Brown or Pierce this previous season. However his upside is nearer than it would seem after his disappointing sophomore marketing campaign.

The primary distinction: Brown already received paid huge cash, and Pierce is ready to command an enormous cash deal as nicely. Touchdown both would price New England a serious chunk of its spending energy and reduce the probabilities it is going to be in a position to put money into different positions of want.

Touchdown Thomas may cost the Patriots a excessive draft choose, nevertheless it’ll additionally give them the liberty to put money into a decent finish like Massachusetts’ personal Isaiah Possible, in addition to one other go rusher or veteran offensive lineman.

It’s nonetheless unclear if the Jaguars would truly contemplate shifting on from Thomas. But when they do, New England must be all-in on these sweepstakes.