Know your Chiefs draft crush, part 5: Brian Thomas Jr.
Is the LSU receiver worth trading up for?
In this year’s “know your draft crush” series, I’m once again examining various wide receivers the Chiefs could target in early rounds of the draft. Fortunately, the 2024 draft is packed with good WR prospects. In an attempt to figure out who would be the best fit in Kansas City, I’m looking at as many as possible, breaking down the film to look at the same traits for each player: Speed/acceleration/agility, releases, route running, hands/catch point work, YAC/playmaking, and an overall takeaway. Here are the guys we’ve looked at so far:
Methodology and Adonai Mitchell (UNLOCKED)
Brian Thomas Jr. is considered one of the best wide receivers in the upcoming draft. After the “big 3” of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze, some say he’s to be the next-best receiver in the draft (it depends on your opinion of Mitchell, Worthy, McConkey, and Franklin). So the general thought regarding him is that he will not be in range when the Chiefs pick at 32.
However, stranger things have happened. All it takes is for a few teams to fall in love with one of the other top players and Thomas could well fall to the mid-to-late 20’s or even as far as the Chiefs. Brett Veach was famously stunned when Trent McDuffie (whose scouting by the Chiefs was wonderfully profiled here by
) fell to the early 20’s and swooped in on one of the few players left on the board with a 1st round grade for the Chiefs. Veach has been infamous in being willing to trade up to grab a player he covets.With both of those things in mind, there’s at least an outside shot that Thomas could be on Kansas City’s radar (particular with their potentially increased need for a receiver who can step in and start day 1). And so I went to the film to see if what’s on there matches the hype.
Brian Thomas Jr. - LSU
Relevant measurements - 6’2”, 209 pounds
Games reviewed - Alabama, Missouri, Ole Miss, Florida St., Florida
(NOTE - Most of the video clips I’ll use will be to highlight positive traits, because they’re more fun to watch. But that doesn’t make the negative traits for a prospect any less real… it just means I like to show the fun things!)
-Speed / acceleration / agility-
Thomas is every bit the athlete his testing numbers would indicate. He gets a terrific jump off the line and accelerates smoothly with each step he takes, getting to his formidable top speed in a hurry. And that word “smooth” is one that should be emphasized with each phase of his routes, particularly when being utilized as a deep threat.
I could show you multiple clips that look pretty similar to this one, and it has a BUNCH of traits to like. But right now we’re focusing on his acceleration, smoothness in changing direction without slowing (an athletic trait to be sure, but one we’ll talk about more in his route running), and how his top speed allows him to just walk away from a defender the moment he gets even. He looks like he could walk into the NFL today and be a high-level deep threat.