Will Steelers trade for Brian Thomas Jr.? What fans should know

When it comes to potential trade interest for the Pittsburgh Steelers , there's been no other positional need generating as much buzz as wide receiver, particularly when it pertains to Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars . And this begs the question: Will the Steelers be able to pull off a trade for Thomas?

Thomas has been linked to multiple landing spots besides the Steelers, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Los Angeles Rams . But the biggest hurdle to clear isn't trade competition. It's that the 6-2 Jaguars may be hesitant to trade one of their best receivers to a 6-2 AFC competitor in the Steelers.

10 more trade targets for Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL deadline

Thomas, who was drafted by the Jaguars in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, put together a fantastic rookie season in which he recorded 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, in addition to earning 2024 Pro Bowl recognition. The next season and a half told a different story, however, as he has failed to recapture the same magic as his rookie and has recorded just 824 yards and four touchdowns over the past 22 games across the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

If Thomas was dealt, which doesn't feel like a guarantee just one day from the trade deadline, it feels more realistic that the Jaguars would trade him to an NFC team or a non-competitive team in the AFC. Unfortunately, this likely knocks the Steelers out of the Thomas sweepstakes. But there are still plenty of other wide receiver targets the team should be interested in, such as Josh Downs of the Indianapolis Colts .

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