The situation with Michael Thomas and the New Orleans Saints is turning ugly. Now, trade rumors have popped up about one of the NFL’s top wide receivers.
Thomas is just a few years removed from winning the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, and his second straight First-Team All-Pro season. With Drew Brees under center, he caught 149 passes for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.
He missed more than half of the Saints’ games last season, and was held to just 40 catches for 438 yards and no scores. The ankle injury that cost him time last year has become a lingering issue and has driven much of the consternation that we have now, just a month until the regular season begins.
The team wanted Thomas to get surgery on his ankle earlier, but he opted to rest it, to no avail. He wound up needing surgery this summer, which will cost him significant time in 2021. In addition, he’s reportedly cut off communication with the team, failing to return calls from former Saints trainer Beau Lowery, wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson, and head coach Sean Payton over the last few months. On Monday, he posted a fairly cryptic, but potentially revealing message to Twitter.
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) August 9, 2021
While the contract situation with the recently-re-signed Thomas doesn’t make it easy, there are now heavy rumors that he could be shipped out if things continue the way that they’re going. We’ve already seen rumors about the Jacksonville Jaguars, who now have Thomas’ coach at Ohio State, Urban Meyer, running the show. It would certainly give Trevor Lawrence an incredible weapon, once MT is back from surgery.
CBS Sports named seven potential destinations for Michael Thomas, and like the Jags as No. 1:
Jacksonville spent a ton on mostly middling free agents this spring, but the team still has more than enough cap space (an NFL-best $30M) to be bold. They’re out of the NFC, which would put the Saints more at ease. They need any true weapons for Trevor Lawrence they can get, even with D.J. Chark established as a starting WR. And best of all, their new coach just happens to be Urban Meyer, who oversaw Thomas’ emerging stardom at Ohio State and drew an eyebrow-raising endorsement from Thomas this year.
Other intriguing options listed include the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and even the Kansas City Chiefs. If Michael Thomas is available for relatively cheap, even with the concerns brought on by his handling of things in these last few months, it could be an incredible opportunity for other teams.
The post CBS Names Michael Thomas’ No. 1 Trade Destination appeared first on The Spun.