The Bears Were Deep at Oklahoma's Pro Day - Who Were They Watching?

"R Mason Thomas does not have the build of what Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen traditionally looks for in edge rushers. However, height can't measure heart and a lack of size and length certainly didn't hurt Thomas' production while at Oklahoma. Thomas, listed at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds on his official NFL Draft profile, posted back-to-back seasons that garnered him All-SEC recognition."

"In 2024, Thomas collected 9 sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss while also forcing a pair of fumbles and recovering two. One season later, Thomas picked up first-team All-SEC honors by posting 6.5 sacks, 9.5 TFLs, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein favorably compares Thomas to Dee Ford, a 6-foot-2 and 252-pound edge defender who was a 2014 first-round pick."

Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles visited Oklahoma's Pro Day to scout 2026 NFL Draft prospects while preparing to address free agency. Key team personnel including Assistant GM Jeff King, Director of Player Personnel Trey Koziol, and Offensive Line Coach Dan Roushar attended the event. Edge defender R Mason Thomas emerged as a potential target despite not fitting the traditional build preferences of Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, Thomas demonstrated strong production with back-to-back All-SEC seasons, recording 9 sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss in 2024, followed by 6.5 sacks and 9.5 TFLs in 2025. NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein favorably compares Thomas to Dee Ford, a former first-round pick and Pro Bowler.

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