Patriots Should Consider Trading For Jaguars Star WR

Perhaps best known for his elite arm strength, the 23-year-old Pats starting quarterback also possesses the velocity and touch on the ball to make any throw required of him. Maye has also been equally touted for his exceptional athleticism. When the play breaks down, he possesses both the agility and instinct to turn off-script options into big gains — either through the air, or taking on the ground attack himself.

While Maye has already accomplished much with a hard-working, productive supporting cast of pass catchers — consisting of veteran receivers Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins — pairing him with Thomas could give the duo a chance to become one of the NFL’s most lethal scoring tandems. Should Jacksonville be open to a package deemed palatable to the Patriots, it would be smart for both sides to engage each other in a business sense.

Still, Russini’s report of a Thomas trade being “unlikely” stem more from the dealer than the buyer. While some may believe that Thomas’ slow start may encourage the Jaguars to sell at a lower prices — especially considering their need for draft capital, after surrendering a 2026 first-round pick to the Cleveland Brown as part of the package to move up to select Hunter — it is important to remember that the Jags still hold the majority of the leverage in any negotiations. At just 23, Thomas has his entire carer ahead of him. Given his high level of production as a rookie, there is no reason to believe that his pseudo-slump through only seven games this season is a harbinger of things to come for his pro career.

From a contractual standpoint, Thomas still has two-years, plus a fifth -year rookie option, remaining on his deal. The Jaguars, per OverTheCap.com, would save a mere $1.5 million against the cap if traded before Nov. 4 — a relatively small price to recoup for a potentially much more lucrative future. Coincidentally, the Patriots currently lead the NFL in available cap space at $54.3 million.

In the final analysis, the likelihood of Thomas remaining a Jacksonville Jaguar beyond Nov. 4 is quite high. However, if he is to be moved, New England not only has the quarterback, the infrastructure and the financial flexibility to make things very interesting in the coming days.