Nothing Special About Brian Thomas Jr.

LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. is a name that has been coming up lately as a ‘riser’ in the 2024 NFL Draft.

However, I went back and watched Thomas in four games from the 2022 season, and I did not see anything dominant or elite.

Yes, he has a big frame, and that makes for a large target, but outside of that, nothing much stood out about this receiver.

Nothing on his game film excited me.

What did he look like running routes?

Thomas did show quick choppy feet initially releasing from the line of scrimmage, which helped him to initially achieve route leverage.

The challenge is he is a long strider with building speed, so any initial advantage he had gets washed over with his one-gear speed and corners make up the difference.

This LSU receiver had difficulty achieving separation on routes.

He’s a possession receiver in the short-to-intermediate route levels and either found a soft spot in zone coverage to make the grab or he used his big frame to box out defenders and make the catch.

He has confident hands to pluck the ball out of the air and he is competitive after the catch, as he does his best to generally maintain his balance and pick up a couple of extra yards.

There is just nothing explosive-looking. That’s the main issue here.

Thomas is a methodical route runner with fluid, but not crisp change of direction. He also lacks a second gear or burst of speed, so it’s tough for him to create separation or break away.

How are draft platforms seeing Thomas?

In November, several draft sites have stepped forward to put a first-round grade on Thomas.

Pro Football Network, 33rd Team, and CBS are all seeing him as an elite talent.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid had this to say:

“Thomas, a 6-foot-4 junior, caught 31 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns in 2022 in a supporting role,” added USA Today’s Draftwire. “Not a bad year, but not exactly attention-grabbing for anyone outside of the SEC West. Thomas has everyone’s attention now after topping all those numbers in the first six games of 2023.

Thomas has always had good size and speed, but he appears to have added more lean muscle to his 205-pound frame. It’s helped him through contact and given him better balance. He’s always had the ball tracking and strong hands, but Thomas has added more polish and attention to detail to his game.”

The game film doesn’t lie

He reminds me of a slower version of Dolphins receiver Robbie Chosen (formerly Robbie Anderson), who’s bounced around the league and is now on his fourth team in his nine-year career.

There’s nothing about Thomas’ game that screams he can be a difference-maker or that he can move the meter on his 2022 game film.

He ranks No. 55 on the consensus board on nflmockdraftdatabase.com.

That even seems way high to me.

If he continues to rise on draft boards, I’ll circle back to his 2023 game film, otherwise, I’ll just leave it here.

#11 Brian Thomas Jr. 6-foot-4, 205 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: Fifth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 9.1% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 29, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): Georgia, Mississippi State, FSU, and Tennessee (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 31 catches (52 targets for a 60% catch rate) for 361 yards (11.6 avg), 5 touchdowns, 57-long

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Nice sized possession receiver with good hands and catch radius. Long torso. Can achieve initial route leverage but corners can catch up and stay tight on a lot of his routes. Quick sudden moves. Decent change of direction, but does labor some to slam on the brakes and come back further downfield. The best route is the comeback when he can use his size and hands to his advantage to secure receptions down the sideline. Natural catcher. Competitive after the catch. Willing to block in support.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Creating separation on routes?

2. Showing a second gear or burst of speed?

3. Any explosive plays?

4. Picking up yardage after the catch?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.