Did this observation prompt Chicago Bears to reach for Zavion Thomas in 2026 NFL Draft?

“The Bears use a lot of two-tight-end sets. However, they still were in 11 personnel 52% of the time last season, so they need to have a third starting receiver to go with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. Right now, that’s veteran Kalif Raymond, but Raymond is 31 and has had less than 300 yards in each of the past two seasons,” Schatz wrote.

Not to say “I told you so,” but…

As much as people (rightly) prioritized defensive line as a position of need over slot receiver in this draft, you have to consider whom we’re dealing with here.

Ben Johnson wants his offense to be explosive and multiple in the different ways it can attack defenses. And you could argue that the personnel last year with Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, and Luther Burden III, especially in the beginning of the year, was a little more redundant than he would’ve liked, while Olamide Zaccheaus was not as reliable as hoped. While it’s unreasonable to think the Bears need to find their own Amon-Ra St. Brown—those guys don’t grow on trees—they clearly wanted a better slot guy than what they had last year.

Whether or not they achieved that is…highly debatable.

Raymond feels like a Zacchaeus-type signing (though the fact that he hardly ever drops the football is an upgrade). He’s going to make the roster because of familiarity with Johnson and his special teams ability, not because he’s a game-changer in the slot.

Thomas, meanwhile, comes in as a rookie who is almost entirely raw materials. He’s extremely fast and has the makings of someone who can run routes, but his lack of major college production (1,213 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in four years) isn’t inspiring. I’d argue he has a more direct path to playing time as a running back than as a receiver at this level.

From that standpoint, the idea that the Bears need at least one more competent receiver is no joke.

Perhaps Burden, who nearly split his snaps between the outside and the slot last year, can be a movable piece as he transitions into a starting role. Additionally, Walker, who showed flashes of production last year, might be able to step in as a big-bodied outside receiver or slot when the occasion calls for it.

But perhaps the swing on two slot receivers this offseason—one in free agency and one in the draft—speaks to what Schatz is referencing: that the Bears still think they can never have enough playmakers to help Caleb Williams.