Chicago Bears controversial draft pick is already showing how impactful he can be for his team in more ways than one
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas is poised to be an exciting play-maker all over the field and head coach Ben Johnson will have no shortage of ways to maximize the abilities of his new weapon.
The Chicago Bears made some controversial selections on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft and the one that raise eyebrows the most was the team’s selection of LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas.
Thomas was selected with the 89th overall pick in the third-round, well ahead of where many experts had him being drafted. However, head coach Ben Johnson felt strongly about the player, his abilities, and what he could bring to the team.
The obvious trait Thomas brings to Chicago is his speed. He ran a 4.28-second 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine and demonstrates that speed both vertically and horizontally. With the ball in his hands, Thomas is also a hard man to bring down. Johnson will have no shortage of ways to get this guy involved.
Zavion Thomas will be an exciting gadget player for the Chicago Bears’ offense
“We had a long conversation, him just telling me what’s the expectations here and what my role will be here,” Thomas said about meeting Johnson while talking with reporters. “It’s going to be dictated on me and how I grab the offense. It’s all going to be up to me.”
Last season, we saw how long it took for a rookie to grasp this offense and earn the trust from the coaching staff before earning a sizable role with tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III. For Thomas’ case, being healthy for the offseason will help him get up to speed quicker compared to the rookie weapons drafted last year.
Thomas will be best suited in the slot when lined up at wide receiver. Given his speed, a lot will be on his plate to learn when it comes to routes, spots, motions, sweeps, etc. That speed will also help open up passing lanes for his fellow pass catchers and keep the defense on their heels when he’s on the field.
Thomas’ offensive role will go beyond catches passes, as well. During his media availability, Thomas noted he’s played running back since he was eight-years-old and carried the ball 40 times for 198 yards and a touchdown throughout his college career. Johnson already noted he has plans to get Thomas involved between the tackles as well.
“It’s natural,” Thomas added. “I’ve been doing it my whole life. I don’t really second guess it, I just try to put my team in the best position to win.”
Zavion Thomas will also look to follow in Devin Hester’s footsteps as a game-changing returner
Outside of his gadget role on offense he’s expected to have as a rookie, Thomas is in line to be the team’s starting return man taking over for Devin Duvernay, who left the team in free agency. Thomas returned 95 total kicks between kickoff and punt with three return touchdowns in college.
Chicago understands how critical it is to have a dangerous return man capable of taking any kick to the house. The Bears currently have the only return man in the Hall of Fame in Devin Hester, who was actually in the building last week and someone Thomas looks forward to meeting soon.
“Just being familiar with this game, being familiar that he’s the best kick returner of all time,” Thomas said of Hester. “Me being able to play the same position as him, watch his film and stuff like that, it’s a blessing. [Saturday] we were with Coach Hightower and he was showing us more Devin Hester highlights. Just putting it back in our head that he’s the GOAT.”
Thomas has already been putting his speed on display in front of the coaching staff this past weekend at rookie minicamp. At the end of the month, he’ll be able to show what he can do among the rest of the team at OTAs.
He’s primed to be an electric player for this team and will quickly prove people wrong that doubted his draft stock coming into the league.