In one of the most inevitable moves of the offseason, the New Orleans Saints have released Michael Thomas, making him a free agent for the first time in his career. Originally entering the league as a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, there was a time when the Ohio State product had a case for being the best receiver in the league.
After a 1,100-yard rookie season and a 1,200-yard sophomore campaign, Michael Thomas established himself as a truly dominant force from Day 1. In 2018, he took his game to a whole new level by recording a league-leading 125 receptions for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns. He somehow improved on that in 2019, finishing with 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns despite Drew Brees missing a decent chunk of the season.
Unfortunately, the wheels quickly fell off the wagon. Thomas suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 of the 2020 season, sidelining him for a sizable portion of the campaign. This injury led to a chain of unfortunate ailments that limited the wideout to just 13 games from 2021 to 2023. Thanks to a series of wild contract restructures, Michael Thomas would have received $119 million in guaranteed money if he were still on the roster by March 15th, so making him a free agent was a no-brainer.
Saints Release Michael Thomas, Will Free Agent Find A New Team?
Michael Thomas is going to take a salary cut as a free agent, but he will still have a few interested teams out there. One such team could be the Miami Dolphins, and superstar All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill is currently trying to recruit him to the Sunshine State.
Just throwing this out there Micheal Thomas in Miami would be
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) March 13, 2024
On paper, it’s easy to see why this would be a great fit. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league, but there isn’t a good third option in this offense. With those speedsters working the outside, Michael Thomas should be able to take advantage of the uncovered middle of the field as a free agent. While he’s not the player he once was, Thomas still looked like an NFL-caliber receiver when on the field last year.
Of course, the Dolphins won’t be the only team interested in signing Michael Thomas as a free agent. Even when factoring in all the injuries, Thomas can still get open and catch the ball, and there is no such thing as too many reliable receivers in today’s NFL. In no particular order, these five teams could prevent the Dolphins from landing the two-time All-Pro.
Possible Team Fits
Carolina Panthers
Diontae Johnson will help, but the Panthers need more than just him if they want to improve their passing game. With the offensive line secured, Carolina should think of investing in a low-cost free agent like Michael Thomas. The team will almost certainly take a wide receiver with the 33rd-overall pick, but they need another veteran in case the rookie isn’t up to speed by Week 1.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots struck out on Calvin Ridley, and recent reports indicate they aren’t interested in swinging big on Marquise Brown or any other big-name free agents. While they’ll likely select a receiver early in the 2024 NFL Draft, they still need another veteran to pair with Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens love veteran wide receivers, and with Odell Beckham likely to depart, the team could pivot to Michael Thomas as a free agent. With Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews serving as the top options in the passing attack, the former Saint won’t need to be anything more than the third option in this high-powered offense.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys finally signed a free agent in Eric Kendricks, but that shouldn’t be the end of their work. This team still needs to find a reliable receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Thomas could be the perfect free agent addition. He probably won’t break the bank, but if he finally stays healthy, he could be the missing piece that helps guide this team on a deep playoff run.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new quarterback, but Russell Wilson is at the point in his career where he needs more help than just George Pickens to succeed. With Diontae Johnson now in Carolina, Michael Thomas makes perfect sense as a low-cost free agent for a team battling some salary cap issues.
Main Photo: Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports
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