Sixth-Round Offensive Lineman Zachary Thomas Could Play His Way into a Starting Role This Year

The Chicago Bears entered NFL Draft weekend with six picks and countless needs. And while they didn’t plug every hole, making 11 picks during the draft helped first-year GM Ryan Poles chip away at his roster-building challenge. We’ll meet the Bears’ 11 draft picks, get to know a bit about their past, and where they project to go moving forward.

Previous: CB Kyler Gordon (Round 2, Pick 39), S Jaquan Brisker (Round 2, Pick 48), WR Velus Jones Jr. (Round 3, Pick 71), OL Braxton Jones (Round 5, Pick 168), DE Dominique Robinson (Round 5, Pick 174)

ZACHARY THOMAS= (ROUND 6, PICK 186)

รขโ‚ฌยข Position: Offensive line
รขโ‚ฌยข College: San Diego State
รขโ‚ฌยข Height, weight, hand size, arm length: 6-5, 308 pounds, 10 1/4″ hands, 33 7/8″ arms

NEED TO KNOW

รขโ‚ฌยข Accomplishments: First-team All-Mountain West (2021), Second-team All-Mountain West (2020)
รขโ‚ฌยข Position ranking: 21st OT (ESPN)
รขโ‚ฌยข The Athletic’s consensus ranking based on 82 big boards: 268th overall, 22nd offensive tackle

HIGHLIGHTS

RELATIVE ATHLETIC SCORE

Relative Athletic Score grades player measurements on a 0-10 scale and compares them to their contemporaries. It is a unique way to give some of these prospects some more depth and perspective.

THREE STRENGTHS (FROM NFL.COM’s DRAFT PROFILE)

รขโ‚ฌยข “Athleticism and body control to stay connected to the block.” … As we see with the athleticism score above, there’s much to love from that standpoint.

รขโ‚ฌยข “Comes off the snap with excellent pad level.” … This is a good strength to have as a developing lineman.

รขโ‚ฌยข “Broad across his upper body, with room for more muscle.” … I guess weight training staff could mold him into something more.

THREE WEAKNESSES (FROM NFL.COM’S DRAFT PROFILE)

รขโ‚ฌยข “Lacks explosiveness into contact.” … All right, so there is athleticism, but minimal explosion. Weird, but I get it.

รขโ‚ฌยข “Hand placement can get away from him.” … Sounds like something for the coaching staff to work on.

รขโ‚ฌยข “Plays with lunge when climbing up to linebackers.” … Can’t afford to do that at the next level.

NFL.COM COMPARISON: N/A

WHERE HE FITS

Developmental lineman with the potential to start as a rookie if he can win a potential open competition at right guard.

Thomas checks some boxes that should make you raise your eyebrows. Firstly, he has starting experience all over the line. The San Diego State product played guard and both tackle spots at SDSU, which is impressive in its own right. That versatility could come in handy at the NFL level, where Thomas could play his way into a swingman role.

Secondly, he has this going for him on his rรฉsumรฉ:

Keeping up with this trend would surely help his cause.

Expecting a rookie who was a Day 3 draft pick to start would be a mistake. But there is a starting role for the taking at right guard. Why can’t it be Thomas? Surely, an offensive lineman with years of starting experience and with game tape that showed him excelling at tackle could make it easy to project Thomas as a starting right guard at some point during his rookie season. Admittedly, plenty of things need to go his way. But turning a Day 3 project into an early starter isn’t a complete stretch. After all, the Bears have done well in recent years turning picks from Rounds 4-7 into immediate contributors.

For instance, receiver Darnell Mooney (5th rd, 2020), Bilal Nichols (5th rd, 2018), Eddie Jackson (4th rd, 2017), Jordan Howard (5th rd, 2016), and Adrian Amos (5th rd, 2015) are among the standouts. And while I realize the general manager and head coaches who were instrumental in putting these players in positions to play a role right away, I can’t help but wonder if the scouting department that didn’t get turned over until after the 2022 NFL Draft can turn up one more gem.

More specifically, I wonder if Thomas could be that gem.

Unfortunately, the bad news is that recent history doesn’t reflect kindly on the Bears’ recent endeavors in drafting late-round linemen. Because while we can point to Charles Leno Jr. (7th rd, 2014) and Jordan Mills (5th rd, 2013) as examples of late-round Bears picks who had staying power as starters in the league, the most recent swings have been futile hacks from Chicago’s front office.

Arlington Hambright (a 2020 Bears seventh-rounder) is already on his second team (Patriots). Fellow 2020 seventh-round choice Lachavious Simmons is best known for being thrust into a starting role he wasn’t prepared to take on. haven’t done much in their careers to this point. Jordan Morgan hasn’t played a single down since being a fifth-round pick in 2017. And Tayo Fabuluje (6th round, 2015) rounds out the Ryan Pace era picks of late-round linemen. It isn’t a group that provides much inspiration. But who’s to say Thomas can’t break the mold? In other words, I certainly won’t bet against him on the basis that it didn’t happen for Hambright, Simmons, Morgan, Fabuluje, and others.

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Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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It's Day 38 of the Chicago Bears offseason. Does anyone want to call their shot and predict the Super Bowl Halftime Show performer for next year's game? I don't think anyone would've predicted Kendrick Lamar this time last year, so...

Ian Cunningham Will Reportedly Interview With the Jaguars on Friday

Even though the NFL coaching carousel has come to a stop now that the New Orleans Saints have hired a head coach, there is still one prominent opening to be filled โ€” and it could belong to Ian Cunningham. The...

2025 Chicago Bears Offseason: Dates, Deadlines, and When to Expect Things

With Super Bowl LIX in our rear-view mirror, it is time for us to fully immerse ourselves in the Chicago Bears' offseason plans. Sure, the Bears (and their fans) have been in offseason mode since early January late November after...

The NFL Hiring Cycle is Complete: The Saints Are Making It Official With Kellen Moore

Kellen Moore is extending his stay in New Orleans. Two days after the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX at the Superdome in New Orleans, the team's offensive coordinator is flying away to become the Saints' new head coach: Eagles...

Super Bowl Leftovers, Early Power Rankings, How to Build a Winner, and Other Bears Bullets

It's Day 37 of the Chicago Bears offseason. I can't believe the Justin Fields vs. Caleb Williams discourse is still happening online. It is absolutely unnecessary, friends. The Bears have bigger and brighter things ahead. And if the cards fall...

Caleb Williams Already Has an Offseason Improvement Plan in Place

If you watched Super Bowl LIX and wondered what it would take for Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears to reach the mountaintop, know you are not alone. The day after the Super Bowl always puts me in a reflective...

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JMU vs. Appalachian State Women’s Basketball: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The James Madison Dukes (21-4) will attempt to build on a six-game home win streak when they take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers (13-10) on February 13, 2025 at Atlantic Union Bank Center.In its most recent game, JMU topped Ball...

How to Watch Western Carolina Catamounts vs. Wofford Terriers Women’s Basketball: Live Stream or on TV

The Western Carolina Catamounts (11-13) hope to end a seven-game losing streak when they host the Wofford Terriers (14-7) on February 13, 2025 at Ramsey Regional Activity Center.In its most recent game, Western Carolina lost to Chattanooga on Saturday, 74-59....

How to Watch Little Rock Trojans vs. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Women’s Basketball: Live Stream or on TV

The Little Rock Trojans (13-11) will attempt to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (18-5) on February 13, 2025. The Golden Eagles have won nine games in a row.On Tuesday, in its last...

Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee State Women’s Basketball: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Eastern Illinois Panthers (14-9) aim to build on a nine-game home win streak when they host the Tennessee State Tigers (7-17) on February 13, 2025.In its previous game, Eastern Illinois lost to Tennessee Tech on Saturday, 65-54. Macy McGlone...

How to Watch Mercyhurst Lakers vs. Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Women’s Basketball: Live Stream or on TV

The Mercyhurst Lakers (8-14) host the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (6-16) in NEC action at Mercyhurst Athletic Center, tipping off at 6:00 PM ET on Thursday, February 13, 2025.Mercyhurst dropped its previous game to Le Moyne, 60-58, on Saturday....

NC State vs. Miami (FL) Women’s Basketball: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The NC State Wolfpack (19-4) will attempt to continue a 14-game home winning streak when they host the Miami Hurricanes (13-10) on February 13, 2025 at Reynolds Coliseum.NC State won its most recent game versus Florida State, 97-74, on Sunday....

Wake Forest vs. Duke Women’s Basketball: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-15) aim to end a three-game losing streak when they host the Duke Blue Devils (19-5) on February 13, 2025 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The game airs on ACC Network Extra.Wake Forest dropped...

New Hampshire vs. Vermont Women’s Basketball: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The New Hampshire Wildcats (8-16) will look to break a five-game losing streak when they host the Vermont Catamounts (13-11) on February 13, 2025 at Lundholm Gymnasium.On Saturday, in its last game, New Hampshire fell to NJIT 71-63. With 26...

How to Watch UNC Greensboro Spartans vs. Furman Paladins Women’s Basketball: Live Stream or on TV

The UNC Greensboro Spartans (17-6) will host the Furman Paladins (13-11) after winning 12 straight home games.In its most recent game, UNC Greensboro topped East Tennessee State on Saturday, 61-56. Its leading scorer was Nya Smith with 18 points. Furman...

Florida A&M vs. Alcorn State Women’s Basketball: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

SWAC play on Thursday will see the the Florida A&M Rattlers (8-14) host the Alcorn State Braves (6-15) at Al Lawson Center, starting at 6:30 PM ET.On Saturday, in its most recent game, Florida A&M lost to Texas Southern 77-70....

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