The 2024 scouting combine is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to take a more critical and detailed look at this year’s draft prospects. With that in mind, we here at Touchdown Wire are doing as many thumbnail scouting reports as possible before the combine gets going on February 29. We will of course be doing more comprehensive reports before the draft, but here’s a good starting point.
Next man up in our series is LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. With Jayden Daniels as his quarterback, Thomas caught 68 passes on 87 targets for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns. On passes of 20 or more air yards, Thomas caught 15 passes on 22 targets for 670 yards and 12 touchdowns. Thomas did most of his work on go, seam, dig, and hitch routes, often against defenses that were playing off to respect the Tigers’ deep passing game.
PLUSES
— He’s creeping death on go and seam routes; nice build-up speed, and then whammo — he’s gone.
— Extensive library of foot fakes both at the line of scrimmage and when in open space; he knows how to get open.
— Leans into and out of his routes to create openings, and the burner speed comes right back up.
— Leverages his routes to coverage; would work well in any option route offense.
— Great at slow-playing cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage before turning on the jets.
MINUSES
— Could be more sudden on quick cuts.
— Drops show up on tape and could be an issue at the next level.
— Will face a crapton more press coverage than he did in college.
— Not a contested-catch receiver per se; his game is about getting free from those situations.
— Can he feast on more than go/seam and hitch stuff? Remains to be seen.
I love Thomas as a complementary speed target. I’m not sure if he’s ready to be a true WR1 just yet.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
PLUSES
— He's creeping death on go and seam routes; nice build-up speed, and then whammo — he's gone.
— Extensive library of foot fakes both at the LOS and when in open space; he knows how to get open.
— Leans into and out of his routes to create… pic.twitter.com/IMZw0oxm85— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 22, 2024
