Jags’ Liam Coen, Brian Thomas Jr. Address Trade Speculation

Four months later, Thomas is still a Jaguar. It doesn’t appear they ever entertained parting with him. Head coach Liam Coen called Thomas early in the offseason to assure the wideout he was not on the trade block, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

“It was just important to let him know we’re all in this thing together, and this is not coming from us,” Coen informed Howe.

Regarding Coen’s call, Thomas told Howe: “That put me in a good spot. You feel like they have enough respect for you to call and tell you stuff like that. That makes you want to be at your best for them or work even harder for them. That was super cool for them to do that.”

Speculation about Thomas’ future in Jacksonville began amid a disappointing second season for the former LSU standout. As the 23rd overall pick in 2024, Thomas performed like one of the premier receivers – let alone rookies – in the league. The 6-foot-2, 209-pounder caught 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns over a full 17-game campaign, earning a Pro Bowl selection and finishing fourth in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.

There was no reason to expect Thomas to drop off in 2025 under Coen, who took over in Jacksonville after an excellent season as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator, but that’s what happened. As a team, the Coen-led Jaguars orchestrated a massive turnaround and went from four wins to 13 in a one-year span. But Thomas slumped to 48 receptions, 707 yards and two scores over 14 games. His 11.0% drop rate was more than double the 5.3% mark he put up as a rookie.

In fairness to Thomas, injuries may have had something to do with his sudden and unexpected decline. Thomas dealt with wrist, shoulder and ankle issues, and Howe reports he underwent offseason surgery to address an unspecified injury that took a toll on him during the year.

With Thomas healthy again, hopes are high for a bounce-back season. The Jaguars “value [Thomas] a ton,” according to the NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, who says there has been a “night-and-day” difference between how he looked in camp last year compared to this summer. If Thomas rebounds as part of a receiving corps that also includes Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and two-way player Travis Hunter, it would go a long way toward helping the Jaguars repeat as AFC South champions.