With a blazing 4.26 40-yard dash, Mississippi State’s elite speedster joins Justin Herbert’s arsenal to provide a game-changing deep threat and versatile weapon for the 2026 season.
The Los Angeles Chargers entered the NFL draft with a clear objective: Do everything you can to help starting quarterback Justin Herbert.
Herbert and company struggled in the postseason, unable to generate much of any offense against the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots. And while Herbert shares responsibility for the result, so did his surroundings.
Many projected that Los Angeles would need to add offensive linemen to improve their prospects for the 2026 season, but wide receiver appears to be an area of emphasis for the team heading into the offseason. The Chargers drafted Brenen Thompson on Day 3 of the NFL draft. The selection grabbed headlines.
ESPN's Matt Miller ranked all draft selections for the three-day period. Miller gave Thompson's selection a No. 60 ranking for the pick.
Nate Gosney of On SI discussed the ranking for the pick. Here's what Gosney had to share about Thompson as a potential impact player for the 2026 season.
"As the Bolts' first pick on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, after trading down, Brenen Thompson was seen as an amazing start to the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft. The speedster from Mississippi State was extremely productive in his final year in the SEC. He will now compete for real snaps with the Chargers.
Matt Miller, the author of the (ESPN draft ranking) list, had this to say about Thompson: 'A talented wide receiver corps gets a deep threat in Thompson. With a 4.26 40, Thompson was the fastest offensive player at the combine. That speed showed during his Mississippi State career, as he led the SEC in receiving yards last season.'"
Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson (0) carries the ball as Ole Miss safety Kapena Gushiken (14) tackles him during a college football game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledger-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesThompson has plenty of speed. Some would argue he has game changing speed for the Los Angeles squad in 2026. Thompson put up one of the best 40-yard dash times in modern NFL history when he ran at the combine. It's the type of speed that could show up at more places than receiver.
Few if any of the top 40-times ever turn into elite wide receivers. One would be hard pressed to find a No. 1 receiver among the top runners, though Kansas City Chiefs wideout Xavier Worthy has put up explosive plays in his time in Kansas City. That said, Thompson's presence could be felt as a rusher in motion or even as a punt and kickoff returner.
The sneaky good draft pick will look to be a difference maker for the team starting in September.