Brian Thomas Jr. 2024 NFL Draft Profile
LSU has another talented receiver entering the draft. I know, shocker! We already covered Malik Nabers (link here). Now it’s time to review Brian Thomas Jr. What should you know about Thomas as he enters the NFL? We got you covered. Enjoy another illustration of the 2024 NFL Draft Profile series!
Thomas has one major thing going for him. The guy is oozing with potential. If you built a wide receiver from scratch like Frankenstein, it would look a lot like Thomas. The LSU product checks in at 6-foot-3, 209. He’s a height, weight, speed monster. Being that big running a 4.33 with a 38.5 inch vert seems unfair. He’s a giant lump of clay that your team will get to mold. That part is so exciting.
The recruiting background checks out too. It’s not like this guy came out of nowhere. Thomas was a four star prospect coming out of the state of Louisiana. Thomas also had major offers to play basketball too. A true duel sport athlete. Not a bad thing at the wide receiver position.
The problem is there are just reasons to be concerned. How high can you pull the trigger on a one year wonder? In reality, that’s what Thomas was. Contributed as a freshman but never really popped until this past year. Had 359 yards as a freshman and 361 yards as a sophomore. Then burst onto the scene leading all of college football with 17 touchdowns. The junior from Walker, Louisiana also chipped in 68 receptions for 1,177 yards. Good enough for Third-team Associated Press All-American and Second-team All-SEC.
Can you really take a one year wonder in the first round? Especially with all the other options at the receiver position? The talent is there but there are reasons to be concerned. Mostly with the minute details of his game. I don’t think he’s an elite catcher of the football. Had serious issues catching the football at the Combine. Had some concentration drops during the season. I also think he’s lacking in the play speed department. More so in short area. I don’t see a ton of intensity in the route runner. Has a nonchalant feel to some of his routes. He’s not a threat in YAC situations either.
The 17 touchdowns from last year obviously stands out. He does a really good job tracking the ball and fighting through contact. Works back to the ball really well. Going to win in the red area if you give him a chance. Has good length and the long speed is there. Crafty against press too. Don’t think he’s going to get beat up in routes.
I have a second round grade on Brian Thomas Jr. Will eventually turn into a quality starter but needs to refine his craft. Not quite as physically imposing as an AJ Brown but has freakish like qualities. Going to take him some time to get going but if developed the right way, should be a nice starter for any team. Am concerned he’s a lot like Terrace Marshall who didn’t turn into anything but Thomas is a bit freakier in the measurable department to ease those concerns.
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