LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Height/Weight: 6-3, 209

Age: 21.6

Strengths

• Acceleration: Blows DBs off the ball and in the open field once he has the ball in his hands
• Pure Speed: Elite burner that can lift the top of the defense and dictate safety alignment
• Catch Radius: Nearly 33’ arms that extend from his frame and make him a goal-line fade merchant
• Release Package: Fluid shoulders and hips to bend and dip off the snap to generate separation
• Body Control: Contorts his body to adapt to ball patterns

Areas of Improvement-Concerns

• Contested Catch: Can lose sight of the ball or the contest in general. Want to see more physicality at the catch point
• Coming back to the ball: Doesn’t always help his QB when the play breaks down or on rhythmic return routes

Evaluation:

A size, speed, and strength-based athlete who can take the top off of any defense and hit his head on the goalpost once the ball is in his hands. Thomas Jr. also has some of the fluidity required to become a nuanced route runner with loose shoulders and fluid hips that help generate separation off the line of scrimmage against press coverage. Living up to his physicality at the catch point and evolving his route tree would allow Brian Thomas Jr. to become an elite weapon in the NFL.

James Foster’s Latest Big Board Ranking:

19 overall, 5th ranked WR