Raiders Are Rumored To Be In On Deal For This Wide Receiver

The Las Vegas Raiders are looking for help at wide receiver, and they’ve been linked to Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The trade rumors are heating up with the deadline fast approaching, and Bill Barnwell of ESPN offered his unique take on a trade for Thomas that had the Raiders sending a second-round pick to the Jags to acquire Thomas. 

That deal would make a lot of sense for Jacksonville, but not nearly as much for the Raiders. Investing that kind of draft capital in a receiver who struggled with drops last year and continues to do that this year feels way out of whack, so let’s take a closer look at how Barnwell justified the deal. 

Thomas didn’t play a single snap last week against the Houston Texans on Sunday, so it’s virtually certain at this point that he’ll be moved. The Jaguars are trying to justify the huge investment in draft capital they made when they selected Travis Hunter, and he played more of a role on offense, per Barnwell. 

Jacksonville is committed to Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers as their starting receivers, and indeed, it was Meyers who helps stabilize the Jags’ receiver situation by catching many of the balls that Thomas was dropping. 

Barnwell used Houston’s trade for Marvin Harrison Jr. as the asking price for Thomas, but that deal made a lot of sense for Houston given Harrison’s connections to quarterback C.J. Stroud. 

The one intriguing part about this for Thomas is his high ceiling, which he established as a rookie by racking up 1,282 yards in receiving yards while catching passes from QBs Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones. 

The writer mentioned a couple of factors that would play into any possible deal as well. Tre Tucker has made strides as a possible primary receiver, but he’ll be a free agent next season, and Barnwell made the obligatory mention of Jalen Nailor having just six catches in five games. 

Thomas is also under team control for the next three seasons, per Barnwell, at $7 million a year. That would have him making third receiver money, the writer added, with the potential to be a No. 1. 

The problem is still the ask. Draft capital is incredibly important to a team like the Raiders right now given that they’re doing a roster makeover, so Kubiak would have to be convinced he can make Thomas productive again. A third- or fourth-round pick is much more viable if the Raiders can get there, but there will be a lot of competition for Thomas given the limited number of available options.