The Michael Thomas era with the New Orleans Saints is ending unceremoniously. According to The Times-Picayune’s Jeff Duncan, New Orleans plans to part ways with the former All-Pro ahead of the new league year. However, Thomas has since called out Duncan on Twitter (also known as X), calling his report “clickbait.” Thomas entered the season on a one-year deal.
Unless the 31-year-old returns to the Saints, he will finish second in franchise history in career receptions (565). He also holds top ten marks in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. However, injuries derailed his career, with the Ohio State product playing just 20 games across his final four seasons.
New Orleans Saints: Releasing Michael Thomas
The New Orleans Saints will cut Michael Thomas, concluding his eight-year stint with the team. Thomas, the 47th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, snagged 92 passes for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. The following season, he earned Pro Bowl recognition after recording 104 receptions, 1,245 yards, and five scores while helping lead New Orleans to the postseason. He averaged 108 receiving yards per game in the playoffs.
My column…
Jeff Duncan: The Saints will soon release Michael Thomas. It shouldn't have ended this way. https://t.co/zP6vqhGn58
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) March 7, 2024
Thomas caught a league-best 125 passes in 2018, earning his first back-to-back All-Pro honors. Again, he led the league in receptions in 2019 and recorded an NFL-high 1,725 receiving yards while winning AP Offensive Player of the Year. However, injuries quickly took hold of the California native, limiting him from 2020 to 2023. Thomas played just seven games in 2020 before being shut down due to an ankle injury. He missed the entirety of the 2021 season with setbacks regarding the same ankle he injured the year before. The two-time All-Pro returned in 2022, but after a foot injury, the Saints shut him down after appearing in only three games.
Thomas played in ten games last season, his most since his award-winning 2019 campaign. He caught 39 passes for 448 yards and one score. However, the Saints will release him this offseason.
Saints: Wide Receiver Room Shorthanded
With the eventual release of Michael Thomas, the New Orleans Saints have only two receivers under contract for the 2024 season, per Saints Wire managing editor John Sigler. Wideouts Chris Olave and A.T. Perry remain under contract, while Rashid Shaheed is an exclusive rights free agent.
Olave, the 11th overall pick in 2022, has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL career. Meanwhile, Perry caught 12 passes for 246 yards and four scores as a rookie in 2023. The Wake Forest product came into his own late, catching three touchdowns across his last three games. Shaheed should return to the Saints next season after earning All-Pro honors as a punt returner. He also caught 46 passes for 719 yards and five touchdowns.
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