Ben Johnson Drives Bears to Zavion Thomas at No. 89
ben johnson had a clear hand in the Chicago Bears’ 2026 NFL Draft haul, and it showed most plainly with Zavion Thomas at No. 89 overall. The rookie wide receiver enters a class of seven new players, with a gadget role and return work already tied to how Chicago plans to use him.
Thomas at No. 89
Thomas was the Bears’ third-round selection, and the speed jumps off the profile first. He ran a 4.28 40-yard dash, which fits the kind of burst the Bears can use in space and on special teams.
That pick also came with a clearer plan than most third-round swings. Thomas projects as a gadget player in Johnson’s offense and could also work as a return specialist if Kalif Raymond departs after his one-year deal.
Johnson and Poles’ Draft
The Bears came out of the draft with seven rookies: first-round safety Dillon Thieneman at 25th overall, center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush, wide receiver Thomas, cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. The class was not built around one splash move; it was assembled across both sides of the ball.
Johnson’s influence is the thread running through it. The article says he has earned the benefit of the doubt, and that matters because Ryan Poles has never hit in the third round, which puts extra weight on a pick like Thomas when Chicago is trying to make that middle-round value count.
Kalif Raymond's Role
Thomas gives the Bears another fast option, but his path to snaps depends on how Johnson wants to spread touches and returns. The comparison with Luther Burden III’s success last year points to a specific type of usage, one built around movement, space and quick decisions rather than a pure outside receiver role.
That is why the No. 89 selection stands out inside this class. Chicago had not addressed the defensive line by the time Thomas came off the board, so the Bears used a third-round asset on a player who can affect the offense and special teams immediately if the role opens.
