Brian Thomas Jr 2024 Dynasty Rookie Profile
Brian Thomas Jr 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile
Position: WR
School: LSU
Class: Junior
Date of Birth: October 8, 2002
Height: 6-4 Weight: 205 lbs
Athletic Testing
40-Time:
Speed Score:
Vertical:
Broad:
Shuttle:
3-Cone:
Bio
Brian Thomas Jr was a two-sport athlete at Walker High School in Louisiana. Before fully focusing on football, Thomas had three-consecutive 1,000-point seasons on the basketball court. Football was the path he chose, though, earning a four-star recruiting status after posting over 1,200 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in his junior season. Thomas received offers from several major programs, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida State, among others. He opted for the Tigers of LSU, where he started 9-of-12 games, caught 28 passes for 359 yards, and two touchdowns. It was much of the same in his sophomore season, finishing fourth on the team in receiving yards with 361.
It wasn’t until his 2023 junior season that we saw Brian Thomas Jr breakout in a big way. In an LSU offense led by quarterback Jayden Daniels and star wideout Malik Nabers, Thomas held his own with 68 receptions for 1,177 receiving yards, and an FBS leading 17 touchdowns. It was enough to earn second-team all-SEC honors.
College Stats
Brian Thomas Jr College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference
Positives
+Speed
+Acceleration
+Vertical threat
+Explosive
+Catch Radius
+Ball-tracking ability
+Variety of effective release tactics
+2.9 yards per team pass attempt
+39% touchdown shares
+33% Dominator Rating
Negatives
-Somewhat limited route tree
-Inconsistent in ability to beat press coverage
-Inconsistent on catches in traffic
-Can better use his size and strength to win in physical situations
-0 career rushing yards (3 attempts), 0 career kick/punt returns
-Age 21 breakout (junior season)
-One season of significant collegiate production
Highlight Reel
Archetype: Vertical Threat
NFL Comp: Martavis Bryant
Draft Projection: First Round
Bottom Line:
Brian Thomas Jr was a late breakout at LSU, but when he hit in 2023, he hit in a big way. Thomas wins with speed, explosion, and elite acceleration. He uses his size and ball-tracking ability to pose a major threat both down the field and in the red zone. Thomas is at his best when running vertical patterns and short crossers, but he has also been known to win on a few simple in-breaking routes like slants and digs. Where he needs to develop his route tree is in the more technical routes that require a bit more nuance and body control. He will also need to improve his ability to get off press coverage and win in traffic. Thomas’ leap from his pedestrian freshman and sophomore seasons to a monster junior campaign gives some confidence that he can continue to develop in those areas.
Thomas has all the physical tools you would want in a playmaking wide receiver. He will make an immediate impact in the NFL as a downfield threat with the upside to develop into a true No. 1. An offense that heavily utilizes the vertical game with a quarterback who’s not afraid to chuck it deep will be the perfect fit for a guy like Thomas. He will likely hear his name called sometime between pick 20 and 32 on draft night. With that assumption, we can project his dynasty rookie draft ADP to settle somewhere around the 1/2 turn.
Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN
RANKINGS | DYNASTY
