The first few waves of NFL free agency over. Now, only veteran depth pieces remain, for the most part. Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas remains available.
A reconnection between the Saints and Thomas seems unlikely. Where will he play in 2024?
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen chose the Dallas Cowboys as the best fit for the former Saints WR.
When healthy, Thomas can still uncover and work multiple levels of the field. However, the injury concerns are legit, as the 31-year-old wide receiver has played in just 20 games over the past four seasons. And while Thomas could wait until after camps start to find the best landing spot, let’s focus on Dallas as a possibility; he could make an impact there on a one-year deal.
In Mike McCarthy’s offense, Thomas could compete with Jalen Tolbert for the No. 3 role alongside CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. He could align as a boundary X and show his ability to work the seams out of the slot. He caught 39 passes in 2023 for 448 yards and a score. — Bowen via ESPN
Bowen made great points. The fit makes a ton of sense for the WR and the orgnization.
Thomas is no longer a reliable WR1 option. In reality, you cannot trust him to be available to be your WR2 over the course of a season, either. For Dallas, they would don’t have to force that.
Instead, they CeeDee Lamb as their top target and Brandin Cooks as their second wideout on the depth chart. Dad Prescott proved his trust in Cooks last season. Tolbert is a young player that they still believe in, and Thomas would provide good veteran competition for him.
As for New Orleans, it does not seem like they’re trying to bring Thomas back. Instead, they have added other veteran contributors like Cedrick Wilson Jr. and a rookie like Bub Means. The end of their tenure wasn’t pretty, and neither side seem inclined to mend their relationship.
It’s best for the Saints and Thomas if he heads to a new team for a fresh start. Keep an eye on the Cowboys as an option that makes a ton of sense.
Leave a Reply