Should the Vikings draft Brenen Thompson?
Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson is a relatively unknown prospect; however, that will change on February 28 when the wide receivers compete at the NFL Combine. His world-class speed will be on full display, thus putting him on the radar. He will be an intriguing mid-round option for teams looking to find an explosive deep threat. The Minnesota Vikings should be particularly interested, as Thompson would be a perfect fit in their offense.
Thompson will undoubtedly be impressive at the Combine. He has a legit shot to break the 40-yard dash record in Indianapolis, previously set by Xavier Worthy at 4.21 in 2024. He has a track background, which is evident in his play. In high school, Thompson ran a 10.22 100-meter dash. For reference, that time would’ve placed him 18th in the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Meaning, he’s one of the fastest players not just in college football, but in all of college sports.
The headline of the Combine will be his 40-time, but he isn’t a slouch at the other tests. Thompson reportedly squats 405 pounds and benches 305. Pair this with impressive explosiveness, which will translate to the jumps, and he becomes a potential all-time great performer.
This speed is a key reason Thompson would be an ideal prospect for the Vikings. Justin Jefferson is a bona fide superstar, but they are lacking depth behind him. Jordan Addison’s future is questionable because of his off-the-field issues, and Jalen Nailor, their old deep threat, is an unrestricted free agent. Because of these uncertainties, it would make sense to invest in the position. They need a new speedy receiver, and Thompson wouldn’t be an expensive fix.
Thompson isn’t just a prototypical deep-threat. He’s able to run routes and has exceptional acceleration/deceleration. This is dangerous because defenders have to shade over the top with his speed, which opens up ample separation when he decides to throttle down and do a shorter route. Additionally, he’s shot out of a cannon each snap. Instantly putting pressure on the opposing cornerback.
An underrated aspect of Thompson’s game is the attention he requires. It’s necessary to have a safety watching deep because cornerbacks aren’t able to keep up. This extra help will open up the field for the other receivers. Thus, creating more opportunities for Jefferson and allowing JJ McCarthy to have easier reads.
The main issue with Thompson’s game stems from his size. He’s severely undersized at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, which creates problems at the point of attack, particularly while run blocking. He isn’t an amazing blocker and can be an indication of a pass play if he’s on the field. He needs to improve this before heading to the NFL. Additionally, Mississippi State didn’t have him run an expansive route tree. He’s shown the potential, but has to be more consistent as a route runner.
Despite this, Thompson should still be an enticing mid-round option for the Vikings. He’s still a smaller name in the wide receiver class, but that will quickly change when the NFL Combine rolls around. His elite speed and athleticism will be on full display, thus putting him on teams' radars.