The Saints’ decision to allow wide receiver Michael Thomas to become an unrestricted free agent was bound to happen, but it was only a matter of when the transaction would occur. On Thursday, The Advocate’s Jeff Duncan reported that the Saints will release the veteran wide receiver. The transaction is set to appear before the league’s new year, which begins on March 13. The impending release of Thomas signifies the closure of the Saints’ most productive wide receiver in team history. New Orleans selected Thomas in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
The former Buckeye would go on to have one of the best four-year stretches for a wide receiver to start his career as a professional. Thomas will always be remembered for his 2019 season, where he broke records for receptions in a season with 149, a franchise-high 1,725 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. After his record-breaking campaign in 2019, Thomas struggled to remain on the field due to nagging injuries, which started in the first game of the 2020 season.
Thomas’s time with the Saints has ended, but he will have a plethora of suitors who could use his services. Teams that come to mind are the Kansas City Chiefs, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Dallas Cowboys.
