The free agency market has several players still searching for a team for 2024. According to ESPN, the Cowboys are considered the “best fit” for one available wideout – former Saints star Michael Thomas. Despite Thomas’ recent spate of injuries, Dallas could use another veteran receiver for the season after the team released Michael Gallup this offseason.
“When healthy, Thomas can still uncover and work multiple levels of the field,” Matt Bowen writes. “However, the injury concerns are legit, as the 31-year-old wide receiver has played in just 20 games over the past four seasons. And while Thomas could wait until after camps start to find the best landing spot, let’s focus on Dallas as a possibility; he could make an impact there on a one-year deal.
“In Mike McCarthy’s offense, Thomas could compete with Jalen Tolbert for the No. 3 role alongside CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. He could align as a boundary X and show his ability to work the seams out of the slot.”
The Cowboys took a shot at landing a free-agent wide receiver two weeks ago when they hosted former Jaguars standout Zay Jones. However, Jones’ price tag was likely too high for Dallas. He inked a one-year deal for $4.5 million.
The 2024 season will be Michael Thomas’ ninth in the league. He turned 31 in March. Last season, he posted 39 catches on 64 targets in 10 games. He tallied 448 yards and one touchdown as the Saints went 9-8.
Saints move on from Michael Thomas after eight years
The Saints drafted Thomas with the No. 47 overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Recording 565 receptions, 6,569 yards, and 36 touchdowns in his career so far, he ranked second, fourth, and seventh all-time in franchise history before the team released him in March. He made an immediate impact with the Saints as a rookie in 2016, leading the team with 92 catches along with 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns.
Thomas made three consecutive Pro Bowls starting in 2017, also earning First-team All-Pro honors in 2018 and 2019 after leading the NFL in receptions in back-to-back seasons and in receiving yards in 2019.
Thomas took home the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award for the 2019 season after catching an NFL record 149 passes and leading the league with 1,725 receiving yards. But in the last three seasons, Thomas has only appeared in 13 total games. He missed the entire 2021 season with an ankle injury and hasn’t been able to stay healthy and a consistent factor in the offense since.
Following the 2019 season, Thomas signed a five-year deal with the Saints for $96.25 million. It made him the highest-paid wide receiver in the league at the time. He signed a one-year, $10 million contract restructure last March, a year before his release.
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