Zavion Thomas keeps turning heads making plays ‘every single day’ proving the NFL made a mistake letting Ben Johnson get this guy
Chicago Bears third-round rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas continues to turn heads at mandatory minicamp and just earned even more praise from head coach Ben Johnson ahead of Wednesday’s practice.
The Chicago Bears have a dangerous arsenal of pass catchers at head coach Ben Johnson’s disposal between Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and even one flying under the radar in Kalif Raymond.
Yet, the player that keeps on turning heads heading into the summer months is third-round rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas.
And the more highlights that come out featuring this guy, the more 31 other teams in the league shake their heads wondering how they managed to let Johnson and the Bears land such a talent that many initially viewed as a reach of a selection.
Chicago Bears WR Zavion Thomas keeps making big time plays at minicamp, and earning more praise
Coming out of college, Thomas was known for his speed and it’s no secret that was a trait the Bears were looking to add. Seeing Thomas run a 4.28 40-yard-dash and watching that show up on tape made it an easy decision for Chicago.
“It’s what he showed at LSU and Mississippi before then,” Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s got a long highlight reel in terms of showcasing that speed in the SEC.”
That highlight reel is starting to build in Chicago after getting Thomas on the field with the rest of the offense at OTAs. Thomas had one impressive play in which he burned Tyrique Stevenson down the sideline.
Tuesday, the first day of minicamp, Thomas turned heads again this time with his run-after-catch speed after catching a short pass from Tyson Bagent and turning on the jets.
“He tends to make a play almost every single day right now,” Johnson added. “That says, okay, if we can harness all of this energy – and make sure that we can trust him that he’s going to align where he needs to and run the route that we need him to – we really could use him. He could be a big weapon for us this year.”
This early praise is rare for a rookie in Ben Johnson’s system. It helps having a coachable player willing to get everything right and put the work in. Kalif Raymond said he even spent 30-40 minutes after practice Tuesday working with Thomas.
“I think he’s developing the work ethic that we expect,” Johnson said. “Not only from a receiver but anyone on offense or the team.”
These things go a long way and it’s clear Thomas is showing everything he needs to be showing to earn an early role within this scheme.