Jaguars GM opens up about 'fraudulent' Brian Thomas Jr. trade rumors

Conflicting reports have emerged since this winter's NFL scouting combine regarding whether or not the Jacksonville Jaguars could trade wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. before the 2026 draft gets underway. 

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone seemed to send a strong message to interested teams about Thomas' status. 

Jaguars have "no interest" in trading Brian Thomas Jr.?

"I know the word 'reputable' came up earlier [in a previous question]. I don't think there's been any reputable statement [that the Jaguars were shopping Thomas]," Gladstone explained, per Michael DiRocco of ESPN. "We don't have any real action on any of those fronts. And you think back to where we landed at the end of the season, where our passing attack was, we have no interest in disrupting the momentum. We look forward to continuing to build off of where we left things and know that Brian Thomas is a big piece to that puzzle, and we don't want that disrupted at any time."

A 2024 first-round draft pick, Thomas finished his rookie season ranked third in the league with 1,282 receiving yards and tied for sixth with 10 receiving touchdowns. To compare, he tallied 48 receptions, 707 receiving yards and a pair of receiving scores over 14 regular-season games this past campaign. 

The perception exists that Thomas is surplus to requirements in Jacksonville after the Jaguars acquired Jakobi Meyers ahead of this past fall's trade deadline and then signed him to a three-year, $60M contract extension that included $40M guaranteed. While Gladstone indicated the trade rumors haven't bothered him, he also acknowledged that such chatter could be tough for a player to hear. 

Jaguars have this concern about "fraudulent" Brian Thomas Jr. trade rumors? 

"I care more for what weight that might put on Brian himself when it's something that's entirely out of his control and unnecessary," Gladstone said about the trade reports. "So I think that's where my mind would go, if anything. But when it's fraudulent claims, you just keep your mind on what you can focus on and you can actually control and try to do what's best for the Jacksonville Jaguars. And ultimately that's not the hardest thing to do when that's the role and where you can try to compartmentalize things."

The comment about Thomas being "a big piece" may have been Gladstone letting other teams know the 23-year-old won't be traded for pennies on the dollar this spring. Then again, perhaps Gladstone is serious about not giving up on the promising prospect after just a pair of pro seasons.