Ben Johnson is trying to find a role for a Bears rookie, leveraging his elite speed and highlight-reel playmaking to electrify Chicago’s revamped offense.
The Chicago Bears still have Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, but lost a few of their receivers from last year's team.
D.J. Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a second-round pick. Devin Duvernay and Olamide Zaccheaus left the franchise in free agency.
Chicago signed former Detroit Lions receiver and return specialist Kalif Raymond in free agency, and has also added UDFA wideouts, Omari Kelly and Kyron Hudson.
Super Bowl champion receiver Scotty Miller joined the team after a tryout.
The Bears then drafted LSU receiver Zavion Thomas in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It's uncertain what his role will be, but he brings a unique skillset to the table. He has lightning-quick speed and could be used as a gadget player for the Bears, similar to the way the San Francisco 49ers used Deebo Samuel.
Thomas was also a great returner at LSU and Mississippi State, but the team already has Raymond in place.
Head coach Ben Johnson believes that if the team can harness Thomas' energy, he could be a great weapon in the offense. Johnson noted how Thomas is a walking highlight reel and continued to impress at practice.
"I don't know if he's faster, but it's what he showed at LSU and Mississippi State before then," Johnson said. "I mean, he's got a long highlight reel in terms of showcasing that speed in the SEC. He tends to make a play almost every day right now that says, okay, if we can harness all this energy and make sure that we can trust him, he's gonna align where he needs to and run the right the route the way we need him to, then we really could use him and be a big weapon for us this year. That's what we're trying to harness right now."
If the Bears can find a good use for Thomas, he could fit in perfectly with the receivers.
Imagining what Johnson could do with a player like Thomas should give every Bears fan goosebumps. The possibilities are endless.
Could Thomas line up in the backfield or be used in jet sweeps? The Bears may be one of the best situations for a player like Thomas to walk into.
The Bears' receiver room now features Odunze, Burden, Raymond, Thomas, Miller, Kelly, Maurice Alexander, J.P. Richardson, and Hudson.
It's safe to say that it's getting a little crowded at receiver for Chicago, but Johnson will definitely put Thomas where he fits best on offense.
