Ben Johnson may have a new toy to work with in Chicago, and it’s not the name most people expected when the Bears turned in their 2026 NFL Draft card.
The Bears entered the offseason with obvious holes, especially on defense, but they didn’t spend the draft loading up there. Instead, general manager Ryan Poles surprised plenty of people by using a third-round pick on LSU’s Zavion Thomas, even with Chicago already sitting on a loaded wide receiver room.
At first glance, Thomas looked like the kind of rookie who would make his money on special teams. That view may be changing fast. He stood out during spring workouts, and ESPN’s Courtney Cronin raised the possibility that Johnson could have something much bigger in mind for him.
“Did Johnson draft his next Jahmyr Gibbs? Thomas, the versatile rookie who has been labeled “electric” by his wide receiver teammates, made a handful of plays during minicamp and could emerge as a valuable gadget player on offense while contributing his 4.28-second 40-yard dash speed as a returner,” Cronin wrote.
That’s a lofty comparison, no question. Gibbs was a first-round pick, and even in a shared backfield with David Montgomery, he was getting touches immediately. Thomas is walking a different path, and there’s no guarantee his role comes fast.
Still, Johnson has already shown he knows how to handle young offensive talent. He eased Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III in at first, then watched both finish strong down the stretch. Thomas could get the same kind of treatment if Johnson decides to build him up gradually.
The rookie’s production also gives him a real case to stick around. Over four seasons at Mississippi State and LSU, Thomas posted 106 catches for 1,213 yards and even scores. The raw numbers don’t jump off the page, but the traits do: twitch, burst, and the kind of lateral quickness that can turn a short touch into something bigger.
Chicago can afford to be creative here because the offense already has plenty of weapons. That depth is part of why the Bears were comfortable moving on from a top-20 wide receiver like D.J. Moore this offseason.
There’s a fair argument that the Bears should have used that draft capital on the defensive line and their pass rush instead. But the team has made its direction clear: an offensive coach, a quarterback they believe in, and a mission to squeeze every bit out of that setup.
Thomas still has a long way to go before he’s mentioned in the same breath as Gibbs. But for a Bears offense that already has more than enough talent, even a little extra juice from the rookie could end up looking like a luxury.
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