Why Jon Gruden’s Pre-Draft Take On Zavion Thomas Changes The Bears’ Pick
The Chicago Bears came under fire for their approach to day two of the 2026 draft. While most understood the selection of center Logan Jones in the 2nd round, that changed in the 3rd. Taking tight end Sam Roush at #69 was bad enough, but the real bombshell came at #89 when they grabbed Zavion Thomas. Draft experts had ranked the LSU wide receiver as a late-round prospect. You could probably get him in the 7th round. So taking him in the 3rd was an egregious reach. What possessed the Bears to do this when they could’ve just waited? Jon Gruden provided the answer.
The former Super Bowl-winning head coach spent a lot of time evaluating players before the draft. Like any offensive coach, he paid special attention to the quarterbacks. One he seemed to hone in on was Garrett Nussmeier of LSU. While this was happening, he became drawn to Thomas’s playmaking ability. When told he’s supposed to be a 7th round prospect, Gruden laughed. The return ability alone would’ve moved him up the board for several teams. Throw in the toughness and great character, and somebody was going to be happy they took him.
Jon Gruden should be a trusted authority on receivers.
He’s coached many good ones over the course of his career. It started with Sterling Sharpe and Robert Brooks in Green Bay as a wide receivers coach. Then it was Irving Fryar in Philadelphia as an offensive coordinator. During his first stint as head coach in Oakland, he had Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. After being traded to Tampa Bay, he worked with Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell, Joey Galloway, and Antonio Bryant. Then, upon returning to Las Vegas, he nabbed the underrated Hunter Renfrow.
It makes sense that he would gravitate to Zavion Thomas. He comes across as a discount version of Galloway. The two are similar in size, have blazing speed, and made a name for themselves as returners in college. People forget that Galloway wasn’t overly productive in college either. He had just 1,641 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons at Ohio State. He just benefited from playing on great teams, which elevated his profile to the point where he became a 1st-round pick. Thomas had no such luck.
This is a pick where we must trust Ben Johnson.
We already know the Bears head coach has a sharp eye for wide receivers. He had a voice in Detroit when they drafted Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Last year, he led the charge to take Luther Burden. If he feels Thomas is a good fit for what the Bears do on offense, it’s best not to question him. It isn’t like the receiver lacks talent. You can’t teach the kind of speed he has. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands. People keep talking about his lack of production, but circumstances can play a role in that.
Thomas was a backup his first year at LSU in 2024. Then, when he got the starting job last year, Nussmeier missed a month due to injuries. That is before mentioning the fact that head coach Brian Kelly was fired midseason. Stability was never much of a thing for Thomas in college, but he still made plays. Jon Gruden is correct. The kid can play. It’s about getting him in the right situation and giving him an opportunity. The Bears were willing to take that risk.