Bears HC Ben Johnson explains why he had to have rookie Zavion Thomas
Bears head coach Ben Johnson raved about rookie receiver Zavion Thomas, and it's easy to see Johnson's vision for him in Chicago's offense.
The Chicago Bears made some surprising moves on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, when they went all-offense with their three selections. But one of the biggest surprises was the selection of LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas in the third round. There were some draft analysts who had Thomas pegged as a seventh-round pick, and Chicago landed him late on Day 2.
But when you look at Thomas, it's not hard to see what might've intrigued head coach Ben Johnson. Thomas has impressive speed and playmaking ability, as well as special teams versatility, which should make him a weapon all over the field. But don't take it from me.
Listen to why Johnson just had to have Thomas on his team. "He has a unique skillset, just in terms of him being a 4. 2 (40-yard dash) guy," Johnson said.
"Those guys don't grow on trees. It's easy to look at because that flashes up and everyone sees it, but yet, when you turn on the tape, it's more than just being able to run deep routes. The versatility that he showed both at Mississippi State and at LSU, from the backfield, whether it's running routes or getting hand-offs.