Brian Thomas Jr. – Receiver – 21 years old – Junior – Ohio State
Height: 1m91
Weight: 93 kg
2023 stats: 68 receptions, 1,177 yards, 17 touchdowns
Estimated position in the draft: 1st round
NFL Comparison: Tee Higgins
The third thief in a simply unstoppable attack. If in 2023, LSU's good season allowed Jayden Daniels to be voted best university player of the year, and allowed Malik Nabers to claim the top 5 of the next draft, it is difficult not to linger on the role of Brian Thomas Jr. Mainly used in depth, the Louisiana native is quite simply the best touchdown scorer during the last first university division campaign, with 17 achievements. A production acquired thanks to crazy potential which shook many defenses in the renowned SEC conference.
Highlights of Brian Thomas Jr.
- Impressive speed for its size
- Fluidity of movement
- Ability to block
As said previously, the element that stands out the most with Thomas Jr. is the astonishing mobility that he uses. Given his large size, the receiver can transform into a real rocket in the deep game, thanks to solid routes, confusing changes of direction and dazzling acceleration, often allowing him to be served until the end. aim.
But as athletic as he may be with his physique, number 11 does not forget to use his body when necessary. A former basketball player, Thomas Jr. can rely on his size and wingspan to gain the upper hand in one-on-one situations and has often even put his body to work when it came to blocking on the ground game.
After the reception, his statistics are not incredible, but he does not shy away from the duel with the ball in hand to accumulate a certain number of yards.
Weaknesses of Brian Thomas Jr.
- Plot tree
- Adaptation to physical coverage
In reality, the problem is not whether Thomas Jr. knows how to use the physical aspect of his game wisely. The question is whether it was sufficiently allowed to do this in its development process.
By being so lethal on the vertical game, “BTJ” was somewhat categorized into a register by his coaching staff, and this had an impact on what he was able to work on in preparation for his pro career. Capable of being threatening on screen plays or in deep play, his route tree remains quite limited in the intermediate zones, an area more often “squatted” by his comrade Malik Nabers.
This necessarily raises the question of his ability to respond to physical cornerbacks. Yes, the player is not afraid to give his body to science, but can he get back into play effectively when a defender disrupts his initial plan and calls upon him technically at the first contact?
Possible destinations
Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals.
With Brian Thomas Jr., the franchises know concretely what they should get, especially those very focused on aerial and deep play. But do they know the total potential of the person concerned? Do they know if they might be dealing with a future No. 1 receiver in the future?
Nothing is certain yet, as the player, as spectacular as he was, seems to have lost time in his personal development. Like Tee Higgins in his time, Brian Thomas Jr. will represent a closely watched commodity during the 2024 draft, due to his atypical profile and the ability to sow discord in a defense.
