Chicago Bears WR making surprising noise amid harsh criticism

When the Chicago Bears selected wide receiver Zavion Thomas in the third round of the NFL Draft back in April, just about everyone thought it was a reach. There were numerous other receivers on the board that seemed like better fits, and Thomas wasn’t all that productive in college.

That being said, Ben Johnson typically knows what he is doing when it comes to identifying offensive talent, so maybe everyone was wrong?

Thomas split his collegiate career between Mississippi State and LSU, catching 41 passes for 488 yards and for touchdowns during his final season with the Tigers in 2025. Overall, he accumulated 106 receptions for 1,213 yards and seven scores across four years on the NCAA level.

The 5-foot-11 burner ran a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash, so that’s definitely impressive, but his lack of production is concerning, as is his route tree.

That being said, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton seems to be buying into the notion that Thomas could carve out a critical role in the Bears’ offense this coming fall.

Chicago Bears WR Zavion Thomas earns surprising outlook

Moton cites Chicago’s trade of D.J. Moore and the fact that free-agent addition Kalif Raymond probably isn’t a legitimate No. 3 receiver as reasons why Thomas might be able to earn himself considerable playing time in 2026.

“Although Thomas posted modest collegiate receiving numbers at Mississippi State and LSU, he’ll have a chance to fill a major void in the Bears’ passing attack after the team traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills,” Moton wrote. “Chicago signed Kalif Raymond, who played in Johnson’s offense for three seasons while with the Detroit Lions, but he’s taken the field for fewer than 38 percent of offensive snaps in three consecutive years. If Thomas demonstrates a strong command of Johnson’s offense, he could be a fixture in three-receiver sets.”

It’s also worth mentioning that the Bears lost Olamide Zacchaeus to free agency, as well, so there is definitely room for Thomas to make an impact. And remember: top receiver Rome Odunze stated that he isn’t sure he’ll ever be the same again due to the foot injuries he experienced last season.

Chicago boasted one of the most explosive offenses in football in 2025, and much of that was due to the fact that the club had a very deep receiving corps. That’s now a major question heading into 2026, but Thomas could represent a solution.

The 22-year-old has looked good throughout the Bears’ offseason program, so perhaps that will carry over into September.

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