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New Orleans Saints Urged to Add Michael Thomas Replacement

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated 3/21/24

After losing Michael Thomas, the New Orleans Saints could come away from the 2024 NFL Draft with an ideal replacement and new deep-threat for quarterback Derek Carr.

Thomas was released earlier this offseason, to create additional cap space ahead of free agency, but with the draft looming New Orleans could find an upgrade for Carr’s supporting cast in the vertical passing game.

CBS Sports projects the Saints will keep LSU star Brian Thomas Jr. in state, selecting him with the No. 14 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

“Michael Thomas is gone,” Josh Edwards writes for CBS Sports. “And that leaves a void next to Chris Olave despite Rashid Shaheed’s emergence. Brian Thomas Jr. has that typical X receiver skill set that would free up Olave to line up around the formation”

Thomas Jr., 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, has the frame to be an ideal red-zone target and the speed to be a deep threat in the passing game.

What Brian Thomas Jr. Can Bring New Orleans Saints

Last season at LSU, Thomas Jr. still carved out a niche despite sharing a receiving room with potential top-5 selection Malik Nabers.

Thomas Jr. caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging a prolific 17.3 yards per reception.

“Presents an appealing combination of size, length and speed with experience working inside and outside,” Lance Zierlein writes for NFL.com. “Thomas will occasionally go through the motions as a route-runner, but the bend, athleticism and speed needed to get better are all in the toolbox.

“He’s elusive against press and can uncover quickly underneath, but he still needs to improve intermediate routes and play a little more physically when crowded to become well-rounded. Thomas rarely has issues generating separation deep and could be counted on as an NFL team’s designated deep guy early in his career. Thomas is unpolished but has projectable talent to become a WR1/2 in time.”

During the Saints’ 2023 campaign, as much as Carr excels in the vertical passing game, New Orleans lacked a consistent deep threat. That could change adding Thomas Jr. in the first round of April’s draft.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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