![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) signals a first down after a reception during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Browns 34-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_139,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/49/01m4xnp9q6brapcg483t.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) signals a first down after a reception during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Browns 34-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The New England Patriots have won their last two games, putting them in a strong position to make a push for the division title. After a weak 1-2 start in which Drake Maye looked completely out of his depth, the Patriots rebounded with a key win against the Bills and five total touchdowns in a 45-17 demolition of the 3-1 Raiders.
With the Patriots 1-0 in the division and currently the fifth seed in the AFC, New England is on the upswing, despite a September offense that ranked worst in the league.
Vegas favors the Patriots by more than a touchdown against the Jets this weekend, and it's a great chance for the Patriots to move to 2-0 in the division and 4-2 on the year. The Jets, however, haven't been a problem recently: since November 2016, the teams have met 20 times, and the Patriots lead the series 18-2.
While the Bills are a known threat, the Dolphins have covertly been a thorn in the Patriots' side. New England swept them last season, and their first matchup, a 33-27 win in Miami, marked the first time the organization ever beat Tua Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins are in the midst of a reset year, as their offseason roster moves and 0-5 start make clear. Nonetheless, they've historically had success against the Patriots: Tom Brady's final regular-season game for the Patriots was a loss to the "Tank for Tua" Dolphins, who beat the team 43-0 earlier that year.
Since Brady's departure, the Patriots are 4-8 against the Dolphins and have been swept three times.
While the Dolphins are likely to be sellers at the deadline, one interesting young receiver has been listed as a potential addition to the Malik Willis-led squad.
Brian Thomas Jr. linked to Miami as top deadline trade candidate
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Alex Kay, the Dolphins are pegged as a top candidate to swing a trade for former first-round selection Brian Thomas Jr. The ex-LSU star exploded as a rookie, hauling in 87 catches for just shy of 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns.
His sophomore slump was significant: he managed just 48 catches for 707 yards and 3 total touchdowns.
Liam Coen's staff didn't select Thomas. Additionally, his staff traded for and extended Jakobi Meyers, while Parker Washington has exploded since the end of the 2025 season. The Penn State alum has caught 48 passes for 806 yards and 7 touchdowns in his last nine games, with 6 of those games.
Thomas has managed only nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown so far, averaging just 21 yards per game. Most recently, he failed to record a catch against the Eagles in Week 5, the first time in his career.
A change of scenery is likely in both parties' best interests, especially since sixth-round selection Josh Cameron appears to be just as good a fit in Coen's system.
Kay reasons Miami could nab Thomas Jr. for a third-round pick, a fair price tag for both sides. The Dolphins would acquire a 24-year-old with proven superstar-level talent at a major discount, while the Jaguars would add a top-100 selection to their cache for a player who hasn't stood out in their scheme.
The Patriots struggled to contain Justin Fields's legs last season. Similar to Willis, Fields was a relatively unproven mobile quarterback, and while he didn't hurt them with his arm, Willis has shown elite arm talent at times, including last season with the Packers. Given the Patriots' history with the Dolphins, they'd need to be careful with the Willis-led squad, particularly if they add Thomas.
Beyond the short-term implications of adding Thomas, the Dolphins could continue building a strong offense this offseason. With Willis, De'Von Achane, and Caleb Douglas as a base, Thomas could be the alpha they're looking for.
Furthermore, Miami is very much in the Jeremiah Smith sweepstakes. If Chris Bell returns to his pre-ACL-tear form, South Beach could have one of the most exciting offenses in football by 2027.
If Thomas can truly be had for a third-round pick, the Dolphins should absolutely call, as should the Patriots. While the winless, Jeff Hafley-led squad is a ways from competing for a Super Bowl, Mike Vrabel and Co. shouldn't be pleased at all if they land Thomas.
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