WR Prospect NFL Comps: Brian Thomas Jr.
Yahoo Sports fantasy analyst Matt Harmon breaks down which NFL players LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. most compares to leading into the 2024 NFL Draft.
Video Transcript
MATT HARMON: We're talking prospect comparisons for this year's wide receiver class. Let's focus on Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU. My aggressive comparison for Brian Thomas Jr. is DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver. Now, this is not a perfect size, strength comparison, but I think it's a perfect developmental comparison for Brian Thomas.
67% of Thomas's routes at LSU were a slant, a curl, or a go route. In DK Metcalf's rookie year, 67% of his routes were the exact same thing. That's OK. That gives you a way to get Brian Thomas on the field early, and burn you deep, and win on in-breaking layup routes as he builds confidence. And, hopefully, as he develops, he becomes more of that true number one receiver, where he wins in contested situations and as a route runner, again, as that career kind of grows and develops.
Now, my cautious comp for Brian Thomas Jr. is former Steelers receiver, Martavis Bryant. I think this is what happens if Thomas Jr. tops out as a low volume, but big play yielding wide receiver two, which is more in line with what, I think, his median outcome is as a player. Essentially, this comes down to route running, like the development there. But regardless, I think Brian Thomas Jr. is going to give you big plays in space as a run after catch asset. He's also going to give you vertical plays, both because of his speed and his tight coverage ability. One way or another, I think Brian Thomas Jr. gets on the field early as a big play merchant, and hopefully, his NFL team is able to develop him down the line with his physical skills and some of the nuance, I think, that's in his game into a true number one wideout with a few years in his game.