Tavion Thomas 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Where does Tavion Thomas fit in with the loaded 2023 NFL Draft? I’m not sure he does fit in. If you can’t tell by now, I’m not super high on the Utah running back. Mainly because there is a fatal flaw I’m just not sure he can overcome. Without going too much further, let’s get right into the Tavion Thomas 2023 NFL Draft profile!
For starters, Thomas is just too slow. I don’t want my running back running a 4.74. It’s just too slow. It’s significantly slower than bigger backs in the past like AJ Dillon. I’ve seen the LeGarrette Blount comps but I find them rather ridiculous. Thomas just doesn’t have the necessary burst you’re looking for out of a back. Yes, Thomas is a bigger back but he’s not a tank. I need better from 6-foot, 237. If Thomas were a linebacker in the modern NFL, he wouldn’t see the field. That’s linebacker size today.
The production isn’t overwhelming either. With a Utah team that won the Pac-12, Thomas never felt like the guy to help take them over the hump. It was mostly the tight ends in this offense that helped move the ball. On the season, Thomas rushed for 687 yards (4.8 per carry) and seven touchdowns. It was actually a step back from his 2021 season where he notched 21 touchdowns.
The other thing to note here is Thomas got his start at Cincinnati. He never got going outside of being a rotational option. Thomas spent the 2020 season with Independence Community College and the numbers there weren’t even eye-popping (347 yards and five scores in four games). Point being, this is an older college player that wasn’t always even viewed as a draftable guy.
Thomas has some power to his game but it’s not overwhelming. Wasn’t surprising to see him not bench. It wouldn’t have been a number that blew anyone away. Thomas has shown he’s a tad difficult to bring down but what more does he bring to the table outside of being a straight downhill runner?
I have an undrafted grade on Tavion Thomas. I just think there are much better options at the running back position this year. Regardless of what happens, this is someone who is going to have to fight to stay on a roster for his entire career.
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