There\u2019s good reason to connect the Pittsburgh Steelers to Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The Steelers had interest in him coming out of LSU and though Mike Tomlin is no longer around, it\u2019s likely general manager Omar Khan and other front office executives would still be intrigued.<\/p>\n
Thomas began falling out of favor with Jacksonville\u2019s new regime last season and ended 2025 with disappointing production. One big offseason receiver splash by the Jaguars and Thomas might be on the outside looking in.<\/p>\n
But if the Steelers want to take an earnest swing at Thomas, pulling off a trade just got a lot harder. Thank Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane for that. The big news of the day came when Chicago Bears reportedly agreed to trade WR DJ Moore to the Bills.<\/a> It didn\u2019t come cheap. Buffalo is giving up its second-round pick, No. 60 overall, for Moore and a fifth rounder.<\/p>\n Those deals set the market. And suggests trading for Thomas will cost just as much \u2013 if not more.<\/p>\n Moore is older than Thomas. Moore turns 29 in April. Thomas is 23 until October.<\/p>\n In 2025, Moore\u2019s production was roughly on par with Thomas\u2019. Moore caught 50 passes for 682 yards and six touchdowns. Thomas hauled in 48 passes for 707 yards and two scores.<\/p>\n Their contracts are worlds apart. Moore\u2019s deal is heavy, just outside the top 10 for wide receivers<\/a>, and the Bills are reportedly guaranteeing money as far as 2028.<\/p>\n The Bills are guaranteeing $15.5 million in 2028 for their new WR DJ Moore. He’ll be 31 that season. With money for 2027 vesting next week, that essentially turns this into a three-year, $73.5 million deal for Moore, with a team option in 2029.<\/p>\n If he plays well, good deal.<\/p>\n \u2014 Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Thomas remains on his rookie deal with the fifth-year option a possibility. That\u2019ll be decided in May 2027.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to justify giving up less for Thomas than it took to land Moore. Discussing the possibility earlier this week in response to Dave Bryan\u2019s great post on the topic<\/a>, I thought a third-round pick plus something else could get it done. That now looks like a dream.<\/p>\n Last year, the Steelers gave up a second-round pick for DK Metcalf. A better player than Moore or Thomas. Metcalf\u2019s acquisition came with a major contract that Thomas isn\u2019t even be eligible for, he can\u2019t get extended until next offseason at the earliest, but the Steelers were happy to lock Metcalf up long-term. Would Pittsburgh be willing to trade its second-round pick in back-to-back years? That seems unlikely. Especially for Thomas, who has his question marks after his down season.<\/p>\n This square might be too hard to circle. Too tough to find just and fair market value compensation. It could put a trade on the backburner until a later point in the calendar. Maybe that\u2019s roster cutdowns if the Jaguars decide they want to go in another direction.<\/p>\n If Thomas remains out of favor in Jacksonville, perhaps the midseason trade deadline could lower his price tag. Although at that point, the Steelers would be trading 2027 draft capital they likely want to preserve for a potential quarterback play.<\/p>\n For now, it makes more sense for Pittsburgh to ignore the hot receiver trade market. Pursue free agent options like Romeo Doubs,<\/a> Jalen Tolbert, and Jalen Nailor. Focus on a receiver draft class with plenty of depth. Because acquiring someone like Brian Thomas is just too costly.<\/p>\n\n