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The Pittsburgh Steelers are in clear need of help at the wide receiver position, and few names are more intriguing than Brian Thomas Jr. After what many have labeled a sophomore slump in Jacksonville, Thomas’ name has begun to surface in trade speculation. That comes just one year after he burst onto the scene as a rookie, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the league’s most promising young receivers. His 2025 season was far quieter, as he finished with 48 catches for 707 yards and three touchdowns, a noticeable dip in production.
A potential move for Thomas would give the Steelers an opportunity to “double dip” from the 2024 NFL Draft’s first round. Pittsburgh selected offensive lineman Troy Fautanu with the 20th overall pick, which has paid off well for them so far. However, many analysts believed the Steelers were strongly considering a wide receiver at that spot before Thomas ultimately came off the board three picks later to the Jaguars.
Some have attributed Thomas’ downturn in production to a sophomore slump, while others point to a crowded wide receiver room in Jacksonville that limited his opportunities. Regardless of the cause, if the Jaguars are willing to listen to trade calls this offseason, the Steelers would be a great fit for the talented third-year wideout.
Of course, any deal would come at a significant cost. Even with a down season on his résumé, it’s difficult to envision Jacksonville parting ways with one of its most gifted young offensive players without a substantial return. That said, there is precedent. In 2022, the Tennessee Titans traded A.J. Brown on draft night. Brown had played three seasons in Tennessee, recording two 1,000-yard seasons before finishing his third year with 869 receiving yards. Despite that dip, he still commanded a first- and third-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles.
If there were ever a draft cycle for Pittsburgh to spend capital aggressively, this may be it. The Steelers are armed with multiple third-round picks following the George Pickens trade, a projected compensatory pick for Dan Moore Jr., and their own selections. With the upcoming quarterback class viewed as relatively weak, investing resources into building a stronger supporting cast for a future franchise quarterback could be the smarter play.
For now, Jacksonville has publicly rejected the idea. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has stated that the organization has no plans to move Brian Thomas Jr. Still, as the NFL Draft approaches, speculation will only continue and the Steelers are one of the few teams positioned to make a move.
While Jacksonville has made it clear it has no intention of moving Brian Thomas Jr., trade history suggests the right offer might sway them. If the Steelers were to make a serious push, what do you think it would take to acquire Thomas? Let us know your thoughts below.
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By Hunter Lambert
February 4, 2026
