When the Chicago Bears traded D.J. Moore in March, it was met with a mix of sadness and understanding. Fans were sorry to see him go. Moore had been a strong presence on offense for three years, making some of the most important catches in recent franchise history. At the same time, they understood the business of the NFL. His contract had become too much for the team to handle. The Bears would likely distribute his targets between Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland moving forward. Maybe another receiver would enter the mix down the line. Nobody expected that to be Zavion Thomas.
It was a considerable shock when the Bears took the receiver in the 3rd round. Part of it was the feeling that the position wasn’t a pressing need, and another was his track record in college. Thomas had never produced 500 or more yards in any of his seasons. What could he possibly offer the Bears offensively? Sure, he’s fast, but plenty of really fast guys don’t make it in the NFL. Well, if you listen to how head coach Ben Johnson spoke about Thomas following spring practices, it’s clear the team has big plans for him.
“He tends to make a play almost every single day right now that says, OK, if we can harness all of this energy and make sure that we can trust him and he’s going to align where he needs to and run the route the way we need him to, that we really could use him and he could be a big weapon for us this year.”
Zavion Thomas has one big hurdle to clear.
Based on the whispers from Halas Hall and the few video clips made available, it’s clear Thomas is more than just a really fast guy. He has better hands than he gets credit for and can be dangerous after the catch. He isn’t a good return man by accident. The trick has always been mastering the art of detailed and precise route-running, as Johnson alluded to. Being fast doesn’t make you an elite route-runner. If anything, that speed can be a problem at times because many players don’t understand how to control it. They just get to go all out and end up losing their timing and flow when trying to throttle down.
The trick is to stay in lower gears to maximize the effectiveness of your cuts, then open the throttle once you’re running straight to create separation. It sounds simple, but mastering it takes time and dedication. Plenty of receivers claim to work at it. Too many never really take it seriously enough. They grew up in high school and college, just being the fastest guy on the field, knowing no one could touch them. Once they get to the NFL, the realization hits that everybody is fast. Only the detailed and disciplined players find success.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
Expect a timeline similar to Luther Burden.
Johnson didn’t trot the 2nd round pick onto the field immediately last season. Burden didn’t crack 20 snaps in a game until week 10 against the New York Giants. You can probably expect a similar timeline for Zavion Thomas. They will get him game reps here and there, providing much-needed experience and opportunities to make plays. Learn what NFL speed is really like. As his comfort grows, so will his opportunities. The beauty is that the Bears have Kalif Raymond to handle the duties of third receiver this season. He is a mirror image of Thomas and has been spending lots of time after every practice helping the rookie.
One thing is certain. If Thomas becomes a key playmaker for the team this season, Johnson will be owed lots of apologies. Plenty of people criticized the pick, calling it unnecessary and a glaring reach. The Bears head coach saw something different. After what happened last year with Burden and Colston Loveland, you’d think his eye for talent might have some credibility. Thomas hopes to prove him right.
