There's no denying that the Philadelphia Eagles have an A.J. Brown-sized hole to fill in their offense. How the club replaces its star wide receiver remains to be seen and is a pressing question many are eagerly awaiting an answer to.
Can the Eagles be taken seriously as Super Bowl contenders with this new-look post-Brown passing attack? If not, what levers can they pull to stay among the NFL's elite?
Zach Berman of The Athletic believes Philly has a roster "among the top five" in football as currently constructed. He also cast doubt on the idea that a single player can come in and change their outlook overnight.
Berman did mention one fascinating hypothetical Brown replacement who can unlock an element of the Eagles' offense, though: Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Thomas' name has churned through the rumor mill for quite some time despite the Jaguars' attempts to silence the outside noise. Frankly, between Philadelphia's surplus of assets and potential need, plus the situation in Jacksonville, a trade feels more realistic than Berman's tone suggests.
"So I'm not sure there's that one move available that pushes them over the edge," Berman wrote. "If Brian Thomas were available, I still think he [can] give the Eagles a dimension that they don’t have in the passing game."
Several factors could lead to Eagles-Jaguars Brian Thomas Jr. trade
The Eagles have a lot riding on the 2026 campaign after following up a Super Bowl LIX victory with a Wild Card Weekend flameout. More specifically, quarterback Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni are under enormous pressure. If the team is missing firepower and/or stumbles out of the gates, perhaps they look powerfully into Thomas.
Actions speak louder than words, as the saying goes, and Philadelphia's moves this offseason indicate they're comfortable rolling with DeVonta Smith as their top dog. They brought in a rookie (a first-round pick at that) Ã la Makai Lemon and veterans Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown as depth pieces.
However, whether Smith can be a clear-cut alpha has been a hotly debated topic over the years. He's proven capable of doing so, albeit in an incredibly small sample. The narrative surrounding his lack of size (6-foot, 170 pounds) will never go away either.
Similarly to the two-time reigning NFC East champions, the Jaguars have shown us how they feel about Thomas. He exploded upon entering the league in 2024, justifying his billing as the 23rd overall draft pick before regressing heavily in Year 2. Several factors have weighed into the tale of two stories, yet most of those concerns seem here to stay.
Jacksonville acquired sure-handed wideout Jakobi Meyers last season, which was a massive addition. He led them in targets (61) and receptions (42) from his Week 10 debut onward. The front office hasn't stopped gushing over him and handed out a lucrative long-term contract extension to back it up.
Parker Washington also emerged as an exciting playmaker, effectively forcing his way into the Jags' plans. There's a good chance he secures a new deal sooner rather than later. Paying him and Meyers (and tight end Brenton Strange) certainly complicates matters for Thomas' future.
Not to mention, the Jaguars moved heaven and earth to take wideout and cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 selection in 2025. He has to live up to the hype that came with his unique two-way prowess to justify the franchise's significant investment in him. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner's expected usage on both sides of the ball creates even more competition for Thomas.
Overall, it's just hard to see where Thomas fits into the picture in Jacksonville. Why can't Philadelphia swoop in and capitalize on a prime buy-low opportunity using the bargaining chips accrued from sending Brown to the New England Patriots?
Read more: Eagles forgotten man has a real chance to crash the depth chart
For what it's worth, this isn't the first instance where Thomas has been identified as a possible option for the Eagles in recent months.
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