Brian Thomas Jr: Not First Round Caliber

LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. took college football by storm in 2023, being a true deep threat for his teammate, quarterback Jayden Daniels.

With Malik Nabers lined up on the opposite side, it opened up plenty of opportunities for this 6-foot-4 target.

He was rated a 4-star recruit by both ESPN & 247 Sports.

2023 Summary:

Thomas exploded onto the scene, and it came out of nowhere. He was dominating every secondary deep. This LSU receiver racked in 68 receptions, 1,177 yards (17.3 avg) and 17 touchdowns. Even though his stat line is impressive for the 2023 season, it was only one consistent year of production.

After evaluating his game film, there are concerning aspects of his game to discuss.

Overview: Brian Thomas Jr.

6-Foot-4, 205 Pounds

40 Time: 4.47 (nfldraftbuzz.com)

2023 Stats: 68 rec, 1,177 yards (17.3 avg) and 17 TDs.

Level of Competition: High

Colton Edwards Grade: Third-Round

2022 Film Evaluated: Georgia and Tennessee

2023 Film Evaluated: Alabama, Florida State, and Mississippi State

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

An explosive deep threat that has an impressive start-and-stop ability, showcasing agility and control. Outstanding length that provides reach and a strong catch radius to allow the quarterback to just get it out there. Possesses acceleration that allows him to almost instantly create separation down the stretch. Good fluidity with a variety of release packages, making him difficult to press as well. A true combination threat in the red zone, plus in situations involving 1v1 jump balls and contested catch. His speed and change of direction ability make him a potential YAC threat at the next level. On top of that speed, he can be packaged in various situations including sweeps, RPOs, and mesh concepts.

Weaknesses: Traits of “taking plays off” when not the primary target or during running situations. Route breaks on short and intermediate routes can be inefficient and lazy. His inconsistent footwork leads to inconsistent breaks on his routes. This can lead to a lack of separation at the break on short to intermediate routes. Limited route tree, which is also undeveloped. Occasional drops point to a need for strengthening focus and concentration. Needs to become more physical as a route runner.

Words from his team

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has also noted his appreciation of Thomas and fellow LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.

“They make plays; they make tough, contested catches,” Daniels said, according to LSU Sports. “In man-to-man coverage, they want the ball. Just give them a chance to make a play, and nine times out of 10 they’re going to make it. I’m blessed to be able to play with them.”

LSU head coach Brian Kelly undoubtedly thinks highly of Thomas. He has even mentioned how much he depends on him.

“You can see his maturation process and reliability on and off the field,” Kelly said of Thomas. “We knew this year that he was going to be a guy that we could count on. We just feel like he’s doing everything the right way. And because of it, it translates on the football field.”

Summary:

This Tigers’ wide receiver has a lot more room for growth. That said, he’s a dynamic vertical threat with an impressive combination of size, speed, and burst. He showcases exceptional acceleration and smooth ball-tracking skills. If he can work on the weaknesses above, he could be the biggest steal out of the 2024 wide receiver class. Thomas Jr. is currently mocked as a first-round pick by over 44% of the NFL Draft community (nflmockdraftdatabase.com). The reason for that ⎯there are plenty of NFL teams looking for that true number-one wide receiver who has plenty of upside.

Who will he remind us of?

NFL wide receiver Martavis Bryant who played for four seasons between the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers (2014-2018). Bryant signed a ‘reserve/future’ contract with the Dallas Cowboys on January 16, 2024

Colton just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science at the United States Sports Academy. He has previous coaching experience as a former offense and defensive line coach at a local high school. While performing those duties, he also worked at PFF(Pro Football Focus) for a brief moment of time. He currently develops scouting reports here at firstroundmock.com. He aspires to become an NFL Scout/GM in the future.