From profootballtalk.com:

 

BEARS PLANNING FRIDAY VISIT WITH THOMAS

Posted by Mike Florio on April 24, 2008, 8:59 a.m.

At a time when most of the smoke signals emanating from Halas Hall suggest that the Chicago Bears will focus on improving the offensive line and/or the running game with the 14th overall pick in the draft, a league source tells us that receivers coach Darryl Drake is heading to Michigan on Friday to meet with, and possibly to work out, receiver Devin Thomas.

 

Of course, there’s a chance that the smokescreen is the team’s eleventh-hour interest in Thomas. If the Bears can cajole the Bills into taking him at No. 11, or dupe someone into jumping in front of them at No. 14, there’s a chance that the player whom they truly covet will slip through to them.

 

Regardless of the motive, the fact remains that the meeting will occur on Friday. If the Bears were hoping to send out phony vibes about their interest in Thomas, they presumably would have met with him earlier than the day before the draft.

 

Unless, of course, they want the phony vibes to be really convincing.

The Bears are just doing due dilligence.

 

It could be legit or a legit smokescreen! Either way, it's smart business to see him.

 

From profootballtalk.com:

 

BEARS PLANNING FRIDAY VISIT WITH THOMAS

Posted by Mike Florio on April 24, 2008, 8:59 a.m.

At a time when most of the smoke signals emanating from Halas Hall suggest that the Chicago Bears will focus on improving the offensive line and/or the running game with the 14th overall pick in the draft, a league source tells us that receivers coach Darryl Drake is heading to Michigan on Friday to meet with, and possibly to work out, receiver Devin Thomas.

 

Of course, there’s a chance that the smokescreen is the team’s eleventh-hour interest in Thomas. If the Bears can cajole the Bills into taking him at No. 11, or dupe someone into jumping in front of them at No. 14, there’s a chance that the player whom they truly covet will slip through to them.

 

Regardless of the motive, the fact remains that the meeting will occur on Friday. If the Bears were hoping to send out phony vibes about their interest in Thomas, they presumably would have met with him earlier than the day before the draft.

 

Unless, of course, they want the phony vibes to be really convincing.

The Bears are just doing due dilligence.

 

It could be legit or a legit smokescreen! Either way, it's smart business to see him.

 

Instead of smokescreening all the time maybe we should focus on drafting someone who may actually play well.

Why start now?

 

Instead of smokescreening all the time maybe we should focus on drafting someone who may actually play well.

I really like Thomas, but he's just skyrocketing up draft boards. I know people will say how guys that skyrocket up draft boards tend to be busts, but do I have to remind people of Brian Urlacher (he was a workout warrior that just skyed up draft boards despite serious questions relating to the fact that he had never played LB).

 

Thomas has good hands, athletism and is just very talented in what I don't consider that good of a WR class. However, the reason I'd be semi upset with this pick is that while I think WR is a freaking major need (in fact, I think you could make a case that it is a bigger need than many think, but that depends on how highly you think of Bradley/Hester) when compared with OLT/RB (I do actually have it graded just a tad below RB, but I have Mendenhall graded much higher than Thomas).