Brian Thomas Jr. NFL Draft Profile

Brian Thomas Jr. Scouting Report- LSU Wide Receiver

2024 NFL Draft Measurements

6’4″ 205 lbs.

Brian Thomas Jr. 40 time: 4.45 (estimate)

Introduction

Brian Thomas Jr. is a former 4-star recruit out of Walker, Louisiana. Thomas Jr. attended Walker High School where he had a very successful career and received 16 division I offers. According to 247sports, Thomas Jr. was ranked as the 4^th best prospect in the state of Louisiana. The only players he was ranked behind were current teammates Maason Smith, Sage Ryan, and Chris Hilton. He was also ranked higher than fellow LSU WR Malik Nabers.

Thomas Jr. has played 3 seasons for the LSU Tigers. As a true freshman, he had a total of 28 receptions for 359 yards and 2 touchdowns. Not bad for a first-year player vs. SEC talent. In 2022, he had similar stats, but overall increased his productivity. He had 31 receptions for 361 yards and 5 touchdowns. Finally, the 2023 season is where he truly got to show what he was made of. As of before the bowl game against Wisconsin, Thomas Jr. had 60 receptions for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns. Now that you know about Thomas Jr. and his background, let’s get into what you came here for… the scouting report.

Strengths

Creating Separation

When running routes, Thomas Jr. does a very good job of creating separation when working across the middle of the field. He has a quick burst that allows him to separate from defenders on short/intermediate routes where Jayden Daniels could hit him in stride. If hit in stride, he is very difficult to chase down due to his above-average downhill speed. Thomas Jr. is also good at creating separation from defenders in zone coverage as well. This is due to his amazing awareness and vision to find a seam then sit and wait for the ball.

Body Control

Although Thomas Jr. is already a bigger receiver, his ability to make plays outside of his frame makes him play even bigger. When running vertical routes on the outside, he does a good job of going up and catching the ball at its high point. This often makes the opposing DB irrelevant and could even force a defensive passing interference call. His amazing body control also makes him very effective in the red zone. This allows his QB to float the ball high in the air for him to go up and make a play.

Aggressiveness

Although all the skills mentioned above are impressive, arguably the most impressive aspect of his game is his aggressiveness. When the ball is thrown his way, Thomas Jr. does a great job of using his physicality and size to fight through pressure and go get the ball. As mentioned above, he does a good job of making plays outside his frame. This would not be possible if he didn’t know how to use his size and aggressiveness to make catches through contact. This is also on display when he is run blocking on the outside. When matched up against smaller corners, Thomas Jr. does a good job of using his upper body strength to steer them away from the ball carrier.

Weaknesses

Footwork

The biggest concern that I have about Thomas Jr. going forward is his inconsistent route running and footwork. When making sharp breaks in his route, he struggles to plant his foot in the ground and create separation off that first step. This allows the opposing DB to catch up with him and tighten the throwing window for the QB. His inconsistent footwork also makes it difficult for him to avoid contact vs press coverage.

Consistency

Another concern that I have about his game going forward is his consistency. Although he has good grip strength and can make plays all around his frame, he tends to lack concentration when the ball comes his way. When watching his film, there were too many times where he took his eye off the ball before he had possession. Unfortunately, this would often lead to an incompletion.

Final Thoughts on Brian Thomas Jr. Scouting Report

Overall, I think that Thomas Jr. has a bright future in the NFL if he goes to the right team. His best fit would be as an X receiver on a team that has a young offense with a developing QB. This would allow him to develop his game along with his team and build chemistry for years to come. If he can work on his footwork and consistency, he could be a very dangerous receiver in a few years.

Brian Thomas Jr. NFL Comparison

A thinner Tee Higgins, when he left Clemson.

Brian Thomas Jr. Draft Stock

Brian Thomas Jr. is a very impressive talent and definitely has a future in the NFL. If he was more consistent at making plays and had slightly better footwork, he would be a consensus 1^st rounder. However, I have him bordering on a late 1^st to early 2^nd rounder. With how deep this WR class is this year, it really just comes down to what each team is looking for in a receiver.