The Kansas City Chiefs need a wide receiver, and few teams in the NFL make more sense for a big swing at the position.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. could be that swing. My co-hosts Easton Freeze, Austin Stanley, and I talked through a potential Thomas trade to Kansas City on our latest show. All three of us came away on the same page.

Several teams that made sense for a move like this have already made it. Houston, Philadelphia, New England, and San Francisco have all made recent swings at receiver. That leaves the Chiefs as the most logical landing spot for a talented pass catcher who could use a fresh start.

Why the Jaguars could move Brian Thomas Jr.

The Jaguars aren’t in a position where they need to sell. Freeze made that clear, and he even believes the AFC could go through Jacksonville this year. Thomas, however, has generally been disappointing since his rookie season in 2024, which ranked among the best rookie campaigns by a receiver in years.

A lot has changed since then. Jacksonville has a different coaching staff and a different offensive landscape. Parker Washington and Brenton Strange have emerged, the running game is humming, and the Jags traded for Jakobi Meyers. Trevor Lawrence is playing the best quarterback of his career, yet Thomas’ role feels undefined. Jacksonville hasn’t needed him to win games recently.

On top of that, Stanley pointed out that rookie Josh Cameron is outproducing Thomas this season. That could make the Jaguars comfortable moving him. Thomas still carries real value, though. He is 24 years old and has three more years of team control.

What the trade would look like

Here is the deal we landed on. Kansas City sends a second-round pick to Jacksonville in exchange for Thomas and a seventh-round pick.

Easton noted that this follows the same basic architecture as the Houston-Arizona trade involving Marvin Harrison Jr. The A to Z Sports trade simulator scores this deal as a Jacksonville win by about 200 points. When we entered the actual Harrison trade, though, the simulator had Arizona winning by roughly 500 points. The simulator isn’t gospel.

Austin also pointed out where that pick would likely fall. The Chiefs would make this trade expecting to select somewhere between roughly 58th and 64th. Jacksonville could then use that pick on its next prospect.

Why I like the fit in Kansas City

If you ask me, this fit makes a lot of sense. The style of receiver you are trying to find in Thomas is exactly what Kansas City just lost when Tyquan Thornton dislocated his ankle. Both are long, vertically oriented receivers, but Thomas is much more talented. He still has the upside to become the player we saw as a rookie.

That matters for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. His downfield passing game was re-emerging before the Thornton injury. Thomas is a big-bodied ball-winner who can bring that element back.

A second-round pick sounds expensive based on how the last two seasons have gone for Thomas. Still, the upside and that 2024 glimpse make the price worth it. I would much rather give up that haul for Thomas than for Harrison.

Freeze framed the decision as a choice between two paths. Kansas City could give up late-round capital for a short-term Band-Aid such as Calvin Ridley. The other option is to find a long-term solution. A second is steep, but Thomas is 24 with three years of control, and Mahomes isn’t going anywhere. The Chiefs eventually need a youth movement, and Easton views this as a discounted way to start it.

Stanley admitted he was conflicted at first. Teams can find quality college receivers in the late second round every year. Kansas City, however, hasn’t consistently hit on those picks, and a draft pick won’t help the team this year.

In the end, the argument for Thomas wins out. He is a player who already has a 1,300-yard season on his resume. All three of us like this trade, and the Chiefs should send it in.