Browns trade idea sends first-rounder to Jaguars for 1,900-yard Pro Bowl WR originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coming into the 2026 NFL offseason, the Cleveland Browns had two major areas of need to address: the offensive line and the wide receiver room.
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They’ve essentially resolved one of those spots, adding offensive lineman Teven Jenkins, Elgton Jenkins, Tytus Howard, and Zion Johnson. Now, they need to go after wide receivers.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report has a trade idea that would be perfect for the Browns. Instead of hoping to land a top WR in the draft, Moton pitched an idea that would send a first-rounder to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Brian Thomas Jr.
Browns trade idea sends 1st-rounder to Jaguars for Brian Thomas Jr.’
“The Browns desperately need help at wide receiver, with Jerry Jeudy leading the group,” Moton writes. “… the Browns can offer one of two first-rounders for Thomas to upgrade their below-average receiver corps.”
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This offseason, Thomas’s name has been floating around in trade rumors, with the New York Jets and New York Giants most often being linked to the Pro Bowler.
But, with the Browns’ dire need at wide receiver, and two first-round picks to utilize, adding someone like Thomas would make a ton of sense from the Browns persepctive.
They wouldn’t be giving up their sixth-overall pick either in such a deal. Pick number 24 would surely be enough to convince the Jaguars to part with Thomas.
With speculation that Thomas’s market is more likely a Day-2 draft pick, the Browns offering the Jaguars original draft pick back from the Travis Hunter trade would make some sense for both sides.
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While it’s a risky addition for the Browns, considering the draft capital spent and the fact that Thomas regressed in a big way from his rookie year in 2025, it’s a risk worth taking.
After posting 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie year, Thomas had just 707 yards and two touchdowns in his sophomore season under new coach Liam Coen.
With the Jaguars strong wide receiver corps, they can afford to offload Thomas. And the Browns, with a dire need and a pair of first-rounders, can part with 24th overall to land a 23-year-old Pro Bowl wide receiver who’s under contract for three more years.
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It’s a risky move, especially if his second year in the NFL is closer to his normal production. He has 1,989 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through two seasons. If he can average that out, he will be worth a first-round pick.
But, if it was an outlier season, then Thomas could be in store for a high-volume breakout season in Cleveland as the clear top option for Sanders.
