LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. Recaps Bills Combine Meeting, Reacts to Mock Draft Hype
The Buffalo Bills may experience a defensive exodus in free agency this offseason, but no weakness has drawn the attention of the fanbase like the Gabe Davis-sized hole on the boundary.
Davis’ probable departure and rumors surrounding star receiver Stefon Diggs have made the receiver position a point of emphasis this offseason. Picking 28th overall, the board will likely fall favorably for a second-tier receiver to land in Buffalo.
Few, if any, have been mocked to the Bills as frequently as LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The mass speculation may be on to something, as the team met with him at the NFL Scouting Combine. Meetings aren’t necessarily a strong indicator of interest, especially this early in the process, but it’s no surprise Buffalo is collecting information on a potential target.
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During his media availability, Thomas spoke about the meeting and what he would bring to the Buffalo offense.
“I did have a meeting with the Bills … I feel like I would be a great teammate to the team, a great leader in the wide receiver room, just being able to be me, just being able to be a playmaker,” Thomas said. “So I would say I would bring all those intangibles to a team.”
Thomas is similar to Davis in the role he would play – the primary deep threat on the boundary – but separates himself with his athleticism. He’s a more fluid athlete than Davis, and while the LSU product is more explosive vertically, his ability to win underneath with more consistency is a significant point in his favor.
Anytime an offense is led by a quarterback as talented as Josh Allen, expectations are going to be exceptionally high. The way interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady tinkered with the foundation Ken Dorsey set provides optimism that they can be achieved, especially with additional dynamic talent.
Brady was the passing game coordinator at LSU when the talents of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson took them on a title run. That Tiger-bound connection came up on Wednesday.
“We were just talking a lot of football, talking about his time at LSU,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t there whenever he was, so just talking a lot of football. Talking about what we did at LSU.”
Their LSU ties aren’t meaningful, but when speculation runs rampant during the NFL Draft cycle, it’s bound to land him at No. 28 in even more mock drafts.
Thomas was asked about his feeling toward the growing consensus that he’ll be headed to Western New York, but he admitted it wasn’t on his radar.
“I haven’t really been paying attention to a lot of mock drafts,” Thomas said. “I try to stay off the media, so I haven’t been paying attention.”
Regardless of whether he’s aware of it, the hype continues to build. Buffalo may opt to address the receiver room in Day 2 instead – this class is incredibly deep – but Thomas seems likely to hear his name called in Round 1, wherever that may be.
