Thompson is a steady, technically sound interior lineman whose calling card is pass protection reliability — he didn't allow a sack over his final 18 games at Northwestern and posted elite PFF pass-blocking grades in the Big Ten before transferring to SEC-level competition at LSU. He plays with good leverage, solid footwork, and a mean streak at the point of attack, but he's more 'steady Eddie' than physically dominant — he won't blow defenders off the ball or create movement consistently in the run game. The transition to SEC-caliber defensive tackles exposed some limitations in functional strength and power, with his PFF grades settling into the high-70s range at LSU rather than the 80s he posted against Big Ten competition. There's a clear NFL backup/swing guard floor here, and with continued technical refinement under Brad Davis, a late-developing starter ceiling in the right scheme.

• 🪵Elite pass protection efficiency — surrendered only 2 sacks in 833 pass blocking opportunities at Northwestern over two starting seasons
• 💥Positional versatility with experience at right guard and right tackle (1,429 career snaps split across both positions)
• 🏃Good foot mobility and lateral quickness for his size, enabling him to mirror interior pass rushers effectively
• 🤚Sound technique and leverage — plays with a low pad level and understands hand placement fundamentals
• +High football IQ and maturity — won over LSU's coaching staff in the film room quickly after a late arrival to the program

• 🏋️Lacks dominant functional strength — viewed by some as more of a 'glue guy' than a physically imposing presence at the point of attack
• 🤲Run blocking impact drops off against elite interior defensive linemen; PFF grades settled into high-70s at LSU compared to 80s at Northwestern
• 🏎️Needs more technical growth to translate against NFL-speed rushers consistently
• 🦬Light frame for a guard (307-315 lbs) raises durability and power concerns at the next level