Bears rookie receives a harsh label (but Chicago fans can't really dispute it)

Chicago Bears fans have mixed reviews of the 2026 NFL Draft class. There are a few picks the team absolutely loves, but there are also enough reaches and questionable ones that fans are not satisfied. The biggest pick of the discussion will be Zavion Thomas.

Brent Soblenski of Bleacher Report listed the sixth most head-scratching picks of the 2026 NFL draft and tried to make sense of the decisions. The good news is that he listed the first-round picks of three teams, and the Bears did not mess that up. The bad news is that Thomas to the Bears is one of those bad picks.

"Thomas must surprise and contribute something more than just special teams sooner rather than later. If not, his selection will not be well-received for a franchise that had specific needs to help elevate an ascending squad."
Brent Soblenski

Did the Chicago Bears reach for Zavion Thomas?

This is a fair analysis. Thomas returned kicks but not punts for LSU. He did not top 500 yards last season. He was second on the team in yards, and of the top four receivers, he was fourth in yards per route run. Most projected him as a late-day three pick due to his lack of production and average impact on special teams.

However, the Bears saw his speed and think that they can turn him around. This pick is giving off a lot of vibes that are reminiscent of Velus Jones. He was not that productive, and while the Bears talked about his special-teams value, that was mostly perceived and has largely gone unrealized. Both rose in the draft process because they ran a fast 40-yard dash.

Thomas does not face a major barrier to getting on the field because Khaliff Raymond is currently slotted as the third receiver in the pecking order. However, it will not be easy for Thomas to beat him. When the Bears drafted Jones, the thought was that he could get a lot of work in an empty receiving room, but depth names and veterans passed him up cleanly. The hope is that the same thing does not happen to the Bears here.

Even if Thomas is a hit, it is hard to see how high his ceiling would need to be to make up for the team passing on an edge rusher at this point as well. The Bears are going to be short-handed at one of the more important positions and took a luxury shot on a wide receiver. There is reason to dislike the pick.

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