With the 89th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have selected former LSU Tigers wide receiver Zavion Thomas, whose selection set an NFL record.
Thomas is a burner with speed and experience as a returner. He was also the 24th wideout off the board, the most through three rounds of the draft in the common era. Thomas was also the 24th wideout off the board, the most through three rounds of the draft in the common era. He joins a spirited group of wideouts in the Bears locker room.
Thomas should fit right in.
Bears Add Speed in Potential Reach on Zavion Thomas
Zavion Thomas a Fitting Addition to Bears’ Locker Room
Thomas’ energy was palpable during his post-draft media availability, and it should mesh right into a Bears wide receiver room that also has second-year wideouts Luther Burden III and Jahdae Walker, both of whom do not lack for energy on and off the field.
Burden and 2024 first-round pick Rome Odunze will occupy the top spots as long as they are healthy. The Bears also signed veteran speedster Kalif Raymond in free agency.
Still, Thomas’ speed figures to afford him opportunities to see the field in multiple ways.
The Bears raved about Thomas’ 4.28 speed. They believe he will be a weapon on the field, despite a relatively modest collegiate career at receiver. He finished with 106 catches, 1,213 yards, and 7 touchdowns in four seasons at LSU.
Zavion Thomas Projects as ‘Gadget’ Player
Before the draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler called Thomas a “likely return man and gadget role player who can create explosive plays.”
Brugler ranked him WR34 and gave him a seventh-round grade, citing a lack of “ideal polish.”
“Thomas … brings all kinds of juice to threaten opponents in different ways,” Brugler wrote in his “The Beast” pre-draft guide. “He projects best as a return man and gadget role player capable of creating explosives.”
Notably, the 2025 season was Thomas’ only one without a return TD. The Bears have not had a kick or kick return TD since Cordarrelle Patterson did both during the 2020 season.
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