Contrary to what music says, “bird” is not the word. The word is speed, and LSU receiver Zavion Thomas has it in bulk. He ran a 4.28 forty at the NFL Combine, and his speed shows up on tape as well. He had 41 catches last season for the Tigers, racking up 488 yards and four touchdowns. Where he really shines is as a returner, with a 27-yard average return on kicks and 9.7-yard average return on punts in four years of college.

Thomas’ size (5’10 and 190 pounds) and speed draw comparisons to Tyreek Hill coming out of college. Like Hill, Thomas features a limited route tree and is expected to be a slot receiver who occasionally plays outside and runs mostly fly patterns.

At the very least, Thomas projects to be a starting returner on day one, and if he develops, he could be a dangerous receiver in the passing game. Quarterback Justin Herbert already has Ladd McConkey, Tre Harris, and Quentin Johnson to throw to, so targets for Thomas will be extremely limited. Those guys won’t be around forever, though, and if Thomas plays his cards right, he could be a number two receiver in a season or two.