A new rumor has opened the door for the San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs to land a Pro Bowl-level wide receiver, which they could actually use tonight during Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
Heading into this week's NFL Draft, there has been an unusual amount of trade-related talk. With this year's quarterback class being weak, teams ranked in the top 10 are more willing to trade down and acquire more draft assets this year or next.
However, there have also been reports of teams without a first rounder trying to get a selection tonight, or teams trying to add another pick late in Round 1. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a part of that group, and they're clearly hanging on to a player they took late in Round 1 two years ago in order to make the selection on Thursday.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, "The Jaguars could try to lay the groundwork for a potential trade in the bottom of the first round. A potential lure could include receiver Brian Thomas Jr."
An opportunity emerges for the 49ers or Chiefs to trade Brian Thomas Jr. tonight
There are four teams with late picks in Round 1 who would be interesting to see give up their selection for a one-time Pro Bowl. Those franchises are the San Francisco 49ers (Pick 27), Kansas City Chiefs (Pick 29), Buffalo Bills (Pick 26), and New England Patriots (Pick 31).
The Chiefs targeting Thomas Jr. makes sense as they also have the ninth pick on Thursday night, and are in desperate need of a legitimate receiver. In Kansas City, Thomas could bring the Chiefs' offense back to the dominant power it was at the beginning of their dynasty.
With Brandon Aiyuk's future in San Francisco in jeopardy, the 49ers giving up their only first-rounder for Thomas Jr. would be a smart decision. They might be waiting for this perfect opportunity before officially releasing the receiver.
The Bills and Patriots both have fits for Thomas Jr. However, a pair of AFC East teams heavily linked to an AJ Brown trade may hold their pick and wait until the Philadelphia Eagles star officially hits the open market, which is rumored to be after June 1.
Available after 2025, Thomas Jr. has shown he is not a good fit for head coach Liam Coen's attack. In his rookie season, he earned Pro Bowl honors (1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns) and has a very affordable contract for the next two years.
