LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. Impresses At Combine, Meets With Texans
INDIANAPOLIS -- Some teams covet speed. Others look for size.
LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. has both and could be headed to the AFC South within the next 60 days.
And yes, the Houston Texans are on the shortlist for options he could land during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Thomas, who helped Jayden Daniels become the second LSU quarterback in five wins to the win Heisman Trophy, dominated the scouting combine Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. His 4.33 40-time marked the second-fastest marker of the afternoon, trailing only Texas' Xavier Worthy.
Worthy, who predicted he'd run in the 4.2's, did just that, breaking John Ross' 4.22 time in 2017 with a 4.21 finish. Thomas also finished with a 38.5-inch vertical and 10’ 6’ broad jump.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
It's one thing to have vertical speed, but play speed keeps receivers in the league. No surprise, Thomas has both. During the gauntlet passing drill, Thomas was clocked in by Next Gen Stats as fast at 22.91 miles per hour, the second-fastest among receivers at the event.
Thomas led the nation with 17 touchdown catches last season. He totaled 68 catches for 1,117 yards opposite fellow first-round talent Malik Nabers while averaging 17.8 yards per catch.
“I would say just being able to pick up on coverages, decipher what coverage the defense is in, and picking up on things fast, picking up on plays and stuff,” Thomas said of his game and play style Friday.
The Texans know Nabers will be off the board before the No. 23 pick, but Thomas could still be in play. Houston formally met with the 6-4, 209-pound target in Indianapolis for a formal interview, one Thomas considered "extremely positive."
“Great being able to be in the room with them,” Thomas said. " We talked about a lot of football, talking about a lot of things that we did at LSU and them getting to know me.”
Houston plans on paying a receiver this offseason, but which? Houston is currently in the beginning stages of extending breakout star Nico Collins, making it challenging to sign a high-profile name to a long-term deal.
The Texans could bring in options like Tyler Boyd, Curtis Samuel and Kendrick Bourne, among others, but those would be rental options more than foundational pieces.
Thomas fits a need both in the slot and on the outside. He's also exceptional after contact and in space. Of his 1,117 yards, 886 were after initial contact.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio also seems to favor players who played at big-time college programs in the first round because the transition is easier to project, as evidenced by newcomers C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr.
Thomas said part of the reason for his early success in Baton Rouge came from going up against Stingely in fall camp. When asked who he models his game after, Thomas called out Tee Higgins, a name many Texans fans wanted Houston to add last offseason via trade.
Houston, which owns the No. 23 pick in the draft, also met with Worthy, Oregon's Troy Franklin, and Flordia State's Keon Coleman, among others.
