The Indianapolis Colts are hoping for some better health in 2026 to help the team make the playoffs, but Indy hasn't made any splashy moves by stealing players from other teams. AFC South rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars, might do that with wide receiver AJ Brown, though.
At least, that is what NFL insider James Palmer of Bleacher Report suggested to Kay Adams on her eponymous podcast this week. To be sure, Palmer wasn't saying a deal was imminent, only that he wouldn't be shocked if Brown's next landing spot was with the Jags.
Palmer told Adams, in part, "I think Jacksonville, there's been like, is (wide receiver) Brian Thomas available? He's not available...Is he available?... Do you want to go and make a big splash?... (Jaguars general manager) James Gladstone is always looking to do something big."
Indianapolis Colts rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars, linked to possible trade to acquire AJ Brown from the Eagles
Is he, though? Not that Gladstone hasn't made his share of moves, but the 2026 offseason hasn't produced many. Thinking that because Jacksonville has Gladstone, the Jaguars are always in the mix for blockbuster moves is hyperbole.
Still, rumors have swirled that the Jags might be interested in trading Brian Thomas Jr., who is just 23 years old and has two seasons in the league. He digressed a bit last season from his rookie year (which is odd because Jacksonville overall was far more successful), but the 2024 first-round pick certainly has skills.
The trade would be unfair to the Philadelphia Eagles to only receive Thomas back for Brown, however. Brown is the far more productive receiver over the course of his career, and has the size and understanding of how to use that size to make game-changing plays late in games.
He is an elite player, of course, and Philly is going to want high-end compensation back for him in return. Perhaps Thomas and a high-round draft pick would do the trick. If that happens, Indianapolis Colts cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward will have a tougher time with AJ Brown than Brian Thomas. It makes the daunting task of beating the Jags in Jacksonville more difficult.
And the Colts might need to finally win in Jacksonville, a play Indy hasn't won since 2014, to take a giant step toward making the playoffs and saving the jobs of general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen. Coincidentally, Ballard's move to add Gardner could be just what the team needs to take out AJ Brown and the Jaguars in 2026.
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