Tag: Brian Thomas

Who is your 1st round pick for the Steelers?

Cast your vote for who you want the Steelers to pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

In just three weeks, the 2024 NFL draft will happen and the fortunes of all 32 NFL teams will be set in motion. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, there are still multiple positions of need and the front office, led by General Manager Omar Khan, should have their pick of top prospects for all the teams biggest positions of need.

Based on most mock drafts out there are well as who the Steelers seem to be paying attention to, we’ve narrowed the choices down to five for the No. 20 overall pick.

The Steelers must add a center, center and cornerback early in the draft. Offensive tackle would be a luxury if it means Broderick Jones can move to the left side but getting a starter at one of the other spots are the most pressing needs.

Cast your vote and tell us of the five guys we’ve given you, who is your first-round pick as of right now?

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2024 NFL draft: Chargers GM Joe Hortiz attends LSU pro day

The Chargers were in Baton Rouge, LA on Wednesday.

The Chargers were in Baton Rouge, LA on Wednesday, where they were in attendance for LSU’s pro day.

General manager Joe Hortiz and wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal represented Los Angeles.

The Tigers had a slew of prospects on display, with quarterback Jayden Daniels headlining the pack. However, the Bolts most likely had their eyes set on WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas.

Nabers has been commonly linked to the Chargers at No. 5 overall since the start of the pre-draft process. He is a home-run threat each time he touches the ball, and that type of player would be a welcomed addition to the wide receiver room.

After an 89-catch, 1,569-yard, 14-touchdown season, Nabers followed it up with an incredible pro day, posting a 42-inch vertical and 4.35 40-yard dash time.

If Los Angeles were to trade down and stockpile more picks, Thomas could be a target for them later in the first round. At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, he has good size for the position but also possesses great speed and burst to be a threat vertically and in the open field.

Bears could be planning to load up at wide receiver this offseason

NFL insider Adam Caplan believes the Bears will add at least two wide receivers this offseason to bolster the position group.

Free agency is just a few days away, and the Chicago Bears should be one of the more active teams when it comes to improving their roster, specifically at the wide receiver position. The Bears only have three receivers under contract who played meaningful snaps (DJ Moore, Tyler Scott, and Velus Jones Jr.), and just one of them (Moore) made a significant impact during the 2023 season. Adding players to the position during both free agency and the draft should be a priority, and it sounds like that could be the plan.

Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network recently released a mock draft following the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, where Chicago selected quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 and wide receiver Rome Odunze at No. 9. Neither pick is surprising at this stage, and mock drafts aren’t the end all, be all, but it’s what Caplan said about the Odunze pick that should have fans excited about the Bears’ strategy.

“We’re told that the Bears are planning to add at least two wide receivers this offseason, and this area is around where Odunze — who our sources say isn’t too far behind Harrison in grades from around the NFL — could be selected.

During our talks with NFL sources at the Combine, there was a growing sense that fourth-year WR Darnell Mooney would be playing elsewhere this coming season, which would leave the door open for adding Odunze here.”

From what Caplan is gathering, the Bears will be looking to add multiple wide receivers this offseason, which could come from free agency, the draft, or both. Given the Bears still have around $44 million in cap space following the Jaylon Johnson franchise tag, they can afford one of the better free agent wide receivers on the market. Someone like Curtis Samuel, Tyler Boyd, or DJ Chark could be added as a solid WR3 while the Bears draft a star prospect like Odunze or Malik Nabers in hopes of them becoming an impact player opposite Moore. They could also find a way to trade down and target one of the players in the tier below, such as Brian Thomas Jr., Adonai Mitchell, Keon Coleman, or Troy Franklin.

There are a few different avenues general manager Ryan Poles can take, but it seems all the roads will wind up ending with the Bears revamping their wide receiver room. Adding more playmakers to a team that most likely will have a rookie quarterback under center next season isn’t a bad plan.

Multiple Longhorns among prospects Cowboys interviewed who combine shined on Day 3

Check out @Larimore_Ben’s film evaluation thoughts on several of the skill position prospects who shined at the combine on Saturday, including Xavier Worthy and Trey Benson.

Day 3 of the NFL Scouting Combine workouts have come and gone. Saturday’s itinerary involved offensive skill positions; quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. The jersey sellers showed up and showed out in a big way, including one record breaking performance.

The Dallas Cowboys have now concluded their interviews of  prospects, which they have done in formal and informal capacities. Here’s a continuously updated tracker of who the Cowboys are meeting with.

Formal interviews conducted by the Cowboys aligned with just two prospects that participated in workouts on Day 2, but Day 3 offered more looks on that front with a number of stellar performances.

Formal and informal interview count for prospects included in Day 3 position groups:

QB (formal/informal) 0 interviews conducted
RB (formal) 5/5 worked out
RB (informal) 6/7 worked out
WR (formal) 7/7 worked out
WR (informal) 2/2 worked out

Who were the best performers on the list? Let’s dig in.

2024 NFL Draft: Brian Thomas Jr. scouting report

Brian Thomas is one of the best deep threats in the 2024 NFL draft.

The other piece of college football’s most explosive playmaking duo, LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will look to establish himself as a No. 1 receiver as he enters the 2024 NFL Draft.

Here is everything you need to know about the Tigers’ athletic marvel:

Steelers NFL Combine meetings hint at potential plans to draft first-round WR

The Steelers have met with a handful of receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine, including two first-round hopefuls.

When you look at immediate needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers in next month’s NFL draft, wide receiver isn’t exactly a position that stands out. Offensive line and cornerback, sure — but receiver?

The Steelers love them some receivers and have met with a handful at the NFL Scouting Combine, but two stand out: According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Christopher Carter, the Steelers had a formal meeting with first-round hopeful Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU. Another receiver projected to go in the first, Oregon’s Troy Franklin, also met with the team.

The last receiver taken with Pittsburgh’s first pick? With their first-round pick belonging to the Miami Dolphins in the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, they took Chase Claypool at No. 49. Santonio Holmes was their last true first-round receiver selection in 2006.

When it comes down to it, the Steelers are probably just doing their due diligence and nothing more. They don’t typically start rookie wide receivers in their first year, so taking one at No. 20 doesn’t make sense. That is unless the team has plans to trade Diontae Johnson in the offseason.

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2024 NFL Scouting Combine: Steelers meet with LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Brian Thomas is an elite deep threat at wide receiver.

Wide receivers and quarterbacks addressed the media on Friday at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. One of the best guys in the wide receiver class of the 2024 NFL draft. His production was overshadowed by teammate Malik Nabers but he makes a strong case to be the fourth or fifth wide receiver off the board.

When Thomas talked to the media he noted that one of his formal meetings was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thomas is widely regarded as the best deep threat in the draft while not as polished and complete as the guys above him.

Scouting a first-round wide receiver is somewhat out of character for the Steelers who almost never draft a receiver this early. We can speculate all day about what this could mean from simply doing due diligence on players who might be on the board when they pick to preparing for a big trade of a guy like Diontae Johnson.

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LSU promotes Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton to co-offensive coordinators

LSU removed the interim tag from Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton, promoting them to full-time co-offensive coordinator roles.

According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] knows who will be calling the plays in 2024.

LSU is promoting [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] and [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag] to co-offensive coordinators, removing the interim tag the two had during the bowl game.

After [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] left for Notre Dame, Sloan and Hankton were seen as the favorites for this job. A 35-point showing against Wisconsin only cemented their status.

The move makes sense with LSU’s offense coming off a historic year. Sloan developed [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] into a Heisman winner and a potential top-three draft pick.

Hankton’s group, the wide receivers, were among the nation’s best with [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] leading the country in yards per game while [autotag]Brian Thomas[/autotag] led in touchdowns.

Sloan and Hankton will continue to work with their respective positions despite the promotion.

This allows LSU to keep Sloan and Hankton on staff for the time being. That’s a big win given the recruiting success the two are having. Most notably, Sloan got a commitment from [autotag]Bryce Underwood[/autotag], the top QB and No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class.

Offensive line coach [autotag]Brad Davis[/autotag] and running backs coach [autotag]Frank Wilson[/autotag] are also set to return, which gives LSU plenty of continuity on the offensive staff, even with Denbrock gone.

LSU’s officially announced its hires on the defensive side, too. For the most part, the staff is set, but LSU will look to add a tight ends coach, the group Denbrock worked with.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Dolphins take a WR in Daniel Jeremiah’s first 2024 NFL mock draft

Miami snags LSU wideout in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock of 2024.

The NFL playoffs continue this weekend, as the divisional round is upon us. However, for those who have already been eliminated, like the Miami Dolphins, this is a time for planning for the future.

With free agency and the 2024 NFL draft coming up, mock drafts are coming out nearly every day, and one of the most prolific mock drafters, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, has released his first for this year’s selection process.

The Dolphins are currently slated to make their selection at pick No. 21, and Jeremiah has them adding to one of their best positions and drafting LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Here’s what Jeremiah said about the projected pick:

“Miami elects to build on a strength. I could see Thomas going much higher than 21st in the draft, but Tua Tagovailoa reaps the benefit in this scenario. Thomas gives the Dolphins some size — without sacrificing speed — alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.”

Thomas stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 198 lbs which would immediately make him the biggest wideout in Miami’s room. Erik Ezukanma (6-foot-2) is currently the tallest at the position set to return next year. Still, his future is up in the air, considering he was never cleared to play again after the discovery of a neck injury that landed him on the non-football injury list.

In three seasons with LSU, Thomas recorded 127 receptions for 1,897 yards and 24 touchdowns.

His frame would give Miami the end-zone threat that they’ve been missing, but other areas could be more pressing by the time the draft rolls around.

LSU WR Brian Thomas is one of the college season’s biggest draft risers

LSU WR Brian Thomas is one of the college season’s biggest draft risers and a potential first-rounder

LSU’s passing offense has been an impressive watch in 2023 as a collection. Quarterback Jayden Daniels and wideout Malik Nabors tend to get most of the publicity — and they’re both deserving of prominent draft consideration in April.

Yet it’s the “other” Tigers wide receiver who might have the most NFL impact. Brian Thomas continues to show he’s a major weapon and playmaker, not to mention one of the biggest early-season risers in the draft evaluation process.

Thomas, a 6-foot-4 junior, caught 31 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns in 2022 in a supporting role. Not a bad year, but not exactly attention-grabbing for anyone outside of the SEC West. Thomas has everyone’s attention now after topping all those numbers in the first six games of 2023.

Thomas has always had good size and speed, but he appears to have added more lean muscle to his 205-pound frame. It’s helped him through contact and given him better balance. He’s always had the ball tracking and strong hands, but Thomas has added more polish and attention to detail to his game.

Getting botth feet down on catches like this is exactly what the NFL wants to see from a big target in the red zone.

That’s one of his nine touchdowns through the first six games, and it highlights his ability to make the difficult catch.

Thomas has been more consistent in working in-breaking routes from his typical outside alignment. He’s quick to recognize the coverage and find soft spots between zones and inside cover brackets.

If he keeps up the impressive play and chooses to declare, Thomas could find himself being a first-round pick with instant impact potential. Not bad for a guy who entered the year as a lower-regarded player to watch.