Thomas is a one-speed, hair-on-fire pass rusher who terrorizes offensive tackles with an explosive first step and violent speed-to-power conversion that belies his 249-pound frame. He bends the arc at absurd angles, keeps his feet churning through contact, and turns into a fourth-quarter assassin when the game is on the line — six of his nine sacks in 2024 came protecting leads. The problem is everything else: at 6-2 with 31 5/8-inch arms and a body that's already maxed out, he gets swallowed by run-blocking combinations and can't consistently hold the edge against NFL-caliber power. He's a designated pass rusher ceiling play — Haason Reddick if things break right, a well-paid third-down specialist if they don't — and the team that takes him needs to build a rotation around his strengths rather than asking him to be something his frame won't allow.

• ⚡Elite first-step explosion that puts tackles on their heels before they can establish their pass set
• 🦬Violent speed-to-power conversion that catches heavier blockers off guard and collapses pockets
• 👑Exceptional competitive wiring and motor — fourth-quarter closer who elevates when games tighten
• 🐍Good bend and hip flexibility to flatten rush angles and win around the edge against taller tackles
• 🤲Active, fast hands with chops, rips, swims, and two-handed swipes that prevent blockers from latching on

• 🪵Undersized frame (6-2, 249, 31 5/8" arms) gets engulfed and displaced by bigger downhill blockers in the run game
• 🪵Anchor dissolves against down blocks and combination blocks — gets washed inside and abandons gap responsibilities
• ✂️Durability red flag: high-ankle sprains to both ankles in first two seasons, plus soft-tissue issues as a senior, totaling missed time in three separate seasons
• 🤲Hands arrive late at the point of attack and lacks counters/secondary moves when his initial rush is stalled