The New Orleans Saints were one of the best teams in the NFL for many years featuring a core that included Sean Payton, Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas and Cameron Jordan. As they head into the 2024 NFL offseason, it appears the Saints will be parting ways with another franchise star.
Brees retired in 2021 with Payton following him a year later. With a new head coach and quarterback, New Orleans attempted to run it back with a majority of their same core still in tact. However, with salary-cap issues mounting and the roster aging fast, greater changes appear to be on the horizon.
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- Michael Thomas stats (career): 565 receptions, 6,569 receiving yards, 36 touchdowns
Previewing the Saints’ offseason, Luke Johnson of NOLA.com wrote that it “feels like” wide receiver Michael Thomas has played his last snap for New Orleans.
While an official decision hasn’t been made by the front office, Johnson admits the relationship between the two sides has reached a point where they appear headed “for a breakup” following several turbulent seasons in New Orleans.
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Michael Thomas stats and production decline
| Receptions | Rec. Yards | TDs | Yards per Target | Yards per Game | |
| 2016-’19 (63 games) | 470 | 5,512 | 32 | 9.2 | 87.5 |
| 2020-’23 (20 games) | 95 | 1,057 | 4 | 7.5 | 52.9 |
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Thomas, the 47th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, was one of the best players in pro football for several years. After earning All-Rookie team honors in 2017, Thomas received his first Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and was then named first-team All-Pro in 2018.
He broke the NFL record for most receptions in a season (149) in 2019, leading the NFL in receiving yards (1,725) and receiving yards per game. Through his first four seasons in New Orleans, Thomas was on pace for a Hall of Fame career with three Pro Bowl selections, an NFL Offensive Player of the Year award and a pair of first-team All-Pro honors.
- Michael Thomas contract: $10.203 million cap hit in 2024, $1.2 million cap savings if designated as a post-June 1 release
However, following a myriad of injuries that kept him off the field and clashes with the organization, Thomas has likely sealed his fate in New Orleans. St to turn 31 years old in March, the form All-Pro offensive weapon will likely have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal with a new team to salvage his NFL career.
