It has not even been a month since the Chicago Bears selected LSU Tigers wide receiver Zavion Thomas with the 89th pick. The third-round pick has already been compared to an NFL player who has been playing in the league for the past three seasons. However, it left the fans upset.

Sharing a clip from the recent presser of the Bears, the NFL analyst Dov Kleiman compared Chicago's new receiver Thomas to the Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs.

"Zavion Thomas is Jahmyr Gibbs 2.0," wrote Kleiman.

In the interview, Thomas is asked whether the wide receiver is comfortable playing as a running back in the backfield.

“It's natural," the former LSU player replied. "Like I said, I've been doing it my whole life, so I don't really second-guess it. I just go out there and just try to put my team in the best position to win.”

The comparison between the athletes is out of place since Gibbs is a running back, whereas Thomas plays as a wide receiver.  But both share a remarkably similar athletic profile and "weapon" style of play.

The Bears’ rookie receiver and return specialist is known for his elite speed and versatile playmaking ability. On the other hand, being a running back, last season Gibbs played 45 reps in the slot and 26 out wide as a receiver.

Both players are undersized speedsters in their respective NFL combines. Thomas completed his 40-yard dash in 4.28s, and Gibbs' time was 4.36s.

Thomas (5ft 10in, 190 lbs) is slightly taller and a bit lighter than Gibbs (5ft 9in, 202 lbs), making him more agile than Gibbs.

According to Sports Reference, Thomas’ receiving yards were 1,213 yards, and Gibbs covered 1,212 yards.

Their total receptions in Gibbs’ three seasons and Thomas’ four collegiate seasons are 104 and 106, respectively.

But at the end, Gibbs is already an established NFL star, and Thomas is just starting his career in the NFL. Hence, the comparison is a little too early to be done.

Zavion Thomas’s Jahmyr Gibbs Comparison Sparks Backlash Among NFL Fans

Many Lions fans believed the comparison came far too early for a player who is fresh out of college.

The comparison came off as a content strategy to a fan. “Comparing a guy who hasn't played a down in the NFL to Gibbs is straight up disrespectful. But you'll say anything for likes or views,” he wrote. Gibbs, in three years, has put up 3580 yards, whereas Thomas has yet to take an NFL snap. 

To another fan, the comparison comes off as vague, and he shared a laughing GIF. Thomas' comparison is with a player who already has won three Pro Bowls in three seasons.

For another fan, the comparison itself did not even fully match when it came to positions. “He’s a receiver, btw,” the user commented, questioning why the rookie WR was being linked to one of the league’s most explosive running backs.

The reactions only became more aggressive, and one of the fans shared his frustration about Detroit. “Why is this c*** on my feed? Bears s***!” he posted while dismissing the comparison altogether.

The issue was about how high the standard around Gibbs has already become after his production with the Detroit Lions.

Share your thoughts on the comparison.

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar