Bears WR Kalif Raymond Details What Stands Out About Zavion Thomas
Chicago Bears wideout Kalif Raymond praises Zavion Thomas' preparation, revealing how a simple midnight mobility routine signals the maturity and a veteran mindset.
Video Transcript
What's going on everybody?
Nicholas Morgiano here from Roundtable Sports.
There are just certain free agent signings that just make so much sense, and when you think about when the Bears sign veteran wide receiver Kalif Raymond, that exact mentality applies to that signing.
When you think about what Kalif Raymond brings to the Chicago Bears, it's not only a veteran in the wide receiver room, but an experienced punt returner, kick returner, but somebody who is a mentor, and somebody who does know Ben Johnson's offense.
And when you think what the Bears have in the wide receiver room right now, it's a lot of young, talented playmakers.
Rome Odunze, 24 years old.
Luther Burrell III, 22 years old.
Xavien Thomas, 22.
Jahdae Walker, 24.
And when for Xavien Thomas, a third round draft pick in 2026, when he was brought onto the team, Ben Johnson told him early on, "Follow Kalif Raymond.
Do as he does."
For someone who's had as much experience, 11 seasons now in the NFL, and for Xavien Thomas, he's been doing exactly that, and Kalif Raymond has been noticing.
Here's what he told reporters when he spoke to the podium this past week.
"That guy is, along with being incredibly talented, he is a sponge, and I'm so excited for who he is and who he's going to be."
Raymond also shared a story that Xavien Thomas, again, only 22 years old, he reached out to Raymond and told him about these ankle mobility exercises that he's been doing every single night.
So sent Raymond the video, and this is what Raymond had to say about that.
"I'm looking at this video, I'm like, one, I need to get on this.
No wonder he's so fast.
But two, is this the kind of mentality that kind of creates that consistency, that discipline, that longevity that'll be great later on?
And he's doing it now, every night, and it's so cool to just watch something as simple as that, how it can transition over to no wonder he's so fast, no wonder he's so disciplined, no wonder he's so eager, because something as small as that, he's thinking every night.
It's a sign of maturity."
And that's why when you even think about beyond what Kalif Raymond's going to bring to this team in terms of production as a wide receiver, production as a return man, it's what he can help do for this young football team, this young football wide receiver corps.
And for Raymond, that's why he's so valuable for a guy to Xavien Thomas.
He can continue to mold him, continue to teach him a thing or two, and Raymond's learning also as well that Thomas can teach him a thing or two, even though he's entering year 11 in the NFL.
But as, as that relationship continues to grow between Thomas and Raymond, it's only gonna help the entire offense, right?
Because Raymond's gonna count on Thomas to know the playbook as Thomas would, you know, do the exact same for Raymond.
But those two getting a better relationship means that what's happening on the field or off the field will translate to hopefully production on, on game day.
But it's a relationship that has started early on and continues to become even better as the two get to know each other on and off the field.
