The Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars are predicted to exchange wide receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Keon Coleman, in a trade swap along with draft picks. Thomas Jr., a former first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, took a step back this 2025 regular season while the Jaguars traded for and extended Jakobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders. Before that, Jacksonville took wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, with the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, and even though he’s going to take more defensive snaps, it’s fair to wonder what Thomas’ future looks like. Even though the Jaguars said they want to keep Thomas, they could always trade him at the right price.
Meanwhile, Coleman on the Buffalo Bills also had his struggles in Josh Allen’s offense. After trading Stefon Diggs a couple of offseasons ago, the Bills were never able to establish a star receiver for Allen. Buffalo desperately needs an “X” receiver, which is why ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed this trade in the first place. The Bills bad-mouthed Coleman in the past, and that tells you right that the team moving on from the receiver shouldn’t be surprising to potentially make room for a new receiver like Thomas.
“Thomas would immediately step in as Josh Allen’s No. 1 receiver. For a team that’s $10 million over the projected cap before making adjustments this offseason, Thomas’ contract is a bargain for the next few years,” Barnwell said.
Bills, Jaguars Predicted to Swap Weapons in Surprise AFC Trade
This looks like a solid trade between these two teams, but it feels unrealistic for it to come together, given that both are AFC teams. While Thomas and Coleman need a fresh start in respect to Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen, the two duked it out in the wild-card matchup last month. The last thing that these two teams want is to have regret similar to the Minnesota Vikings letting quarterback Sam Darnold walk in free agency, later joining the Seattle Seahawks to win a Super Bowl.
This isn’t to say Thomas can carry the Bills to the promise land or Coleman help elevate Jacksonville’s offense, but the only way this trade is going to happen is if they do it during the 2026 regular season. Allen isn’t slowing down anytime soon, while Lawrence shocked plenty at the start of the 2025 campaign, going on a win streak and defeating teams like the Kansas City Chiefs. Either way, the Bills need a fresh set of hands, but the Jaguars have an overcrowded receiver room. Here’s what could make sense.
Deal But No Picks
It’s not very sensible for the Bills to dish out a first-round pick while receiving Thomas Jr. in return, along with a fifth-rounder. Both Coleman and Thomas Jr. are on similar levels in their careers. This trade would only go through if there aren’t any picks involved. It’s hard to imagine Buffalo giving up a first-rounder for Thomas Jr.’s potential. It would’ve been a better deal for the Bills if Thomas Jr. were coming off a stellar 1,000-yard campaign, despite the Jaguars bringing in Meyers and Hunter into the offensive scheme.
Meanwhile, Coleman heading to Jacksonville gives him a clean slate with Hunter moving more to a larger role on defense. Even though Parker Washington is coming off a breakout 2025 regular season, hauling in 65 receptions for 954 receiving yards, Coleman could fit the mold in Lawrence’s offense in a slant route situation by fighting for the WR2 role at least, while the Jaguars still trade Thomas Jr. to the Bills.