Brenen Thompson | Mississippi State | 5’9″ , 164 lbs | Jul 25, 2003 (22 years)
Brenen Thompson was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers, becoming the 18th wide receiver and 105th overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
| Year | Games Played | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards/Catch | TD’s |
| 2022 (Texas) | 9 | 1 | 32 | 32.00 | 0 |
| 2023 (Oklahoma) | 7 | 7 | 241 | 34.4 | 2 |
| 2024 (Oklahoma) | 11 | 19 | 230 | 12.1 | 2 |
| 2025 (Mississippi State) | 13 | 57 | 1,054 | 18.5 | 6 |
*Statistics Pulled from Sports Reference
In 2025, Thompson was third-team All-SEC. He set a Mississippi State single-season record with 1,054 receiving yards, was the first Mississippi State player to lead the SEC in receiving yards, and led the SEC in average depth per target. He was also a nominee for the Conerly Trophy (top player in Mississippi) and made the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. Thompson is projected as a 4th-round selection by NFL Mock Draft Database, and Lance Zierlein has a player comparison to J.J. Nelson.
FILM
STRENGTHS
Thompson is a smaller-built vertical threat who has an eye-popping 39.8 yards per touchdown catch. Seven of these ten career touchdowns have come on plays of 42 yards or more. Clearly, he’s a dynamic playmaker based on these statistics alone. His speed allows him to have easy wins over the top that require safety help in man coverage. Thompson shows a shifty release against press coverage and runs past cornerbacks before they can even turn and run. He adds an immediate vertical dimension that can loosen defenses.
WEAKNESSES
The first noticeable red flag with Thompson is his frame. He’s not a catch-and-run specialist underneath, but his speed allows him to be a weapon on crossing the hashes. Additionally, he’s historically dealt with injuries and missed significant time in 2023 due to ankle and hamstring ailments. A lack of size and versatility as a route runner could create challenges for his long-term outlook. Additionally, he’s often bullied at catch-points due to his hit, and at times, has trouble tracking and adjusting to deep throws. Thompson doesn’t have the softest hands and needs to improve his catch focus. If he can diversify his offerings, this will help him to stick and be a long-term NFL player.
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ATHLETIC TESTING
At the combine, Thompson measured 5’ 9 3/8” and 164 lbs. His arms measured 29 3/8” with a hand size of 9”. He checked in with an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.26 and a 1.54 10-yard split. He finished with an NFL NextGen Stats composite score of 77, ranking him 5th amongst wide receivers in the class and projecting him to be an average backup or special teamer. Thompson is an extremely fast and dynamic playmaker who has the raw athletic tools to succeed at the next level with further development.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average
Thompson was selected with the 105th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
I rank Thompson as the 22nd wide receiver in this year’s wide receiver class for projected future Dynasty value; his landing spot for now and the future is interesting if he can further develop his skills at the next level. The Chargers have an elite quarterback in Justin Herbert with largely an unproven room of wide receivers besides Ladd McConkey, Quintin Johnston, Tre Harris, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. If Thompson can further develop his game, the Chargers’ wide receiver room is mostly open for the taking, and he can quickly slide in as the WR3.
Expect Thompson to be taken in the fourth round of Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts. While he’s a blazing-fast wide receiver who ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, usually, elite-speed receivers don’t translate well to fantasy football. Because of speed and dynamic traits, Thompson is someone who, in this range, I’d be willing to take a shot on. One thing to keep in mind is that if Thompson can handle the physicality of the NFL, new Chargers OC Mike McDaniel will surely put him in a position to succeed with his speed.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you gained some valuable information. If you have any questions or you’d like additional insight and analysis, please follow me on Twitter/X at @MonicasHubby. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
