The Bears drafted Thomas in the third round, 89th overall, bringing in 4.28 speed (2026 Combine) to liven up competition for the No. 3 receiver spot. With DJ Moore (Bills) and Olamide Zaccheaus (Falcons) leaving this offseason, the Bears were left with 2025 UDFA Jahdae Walker and free-agent signing Kalif Raymond as their top candidates for the No. 3 role. It may be tempting to pencil in a rookie third-round pick instead, but in Thomas' case, the draft capital may have largely been fueled by special teams expectations. He had more return yards (1,536) than receiving yards (1,213) across four seasons at Mississippi State and LSU, with his role on offense often limited to a modest volume of short targets. Thomas largely played on the perimeter, yet didn't get many chances to use his speed downfield. At 5-foot-10, 190, he's not necessarily too small for the perimeter in the NFL; it's just not yet clear if he has the skill level as a pass catcher to warrant playing time beyond gadget plays and returns.