Can the Saints remain competitive after re-signing Michael Thomas to a new contract? That’s an intriguing question that everyone wants to know. The number continues to rise after wide receivers such as Antonio Brown and Adam Thielen got new contracts from their perspective teams. Drew Brees has played with some reliable receivers throughout his career in New Orleans.
However, none of them were on the level of where Michael Thomas is at right now, not even the “Quiet Storm” Marques Colston. The “Quiet Storm” Marques Colston was Drew’s number one option in the passing game before the arrival of Jimmy Graham. But now it’s Michael Thomas’s time to shine with the Black and Gold. Coming out of college he fell into the right situation when the Saints selected him in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
It’s imperative that the team re-sign Michael Thomas due to 2019 possibly being Drew Brees’ last season in a Saints uniform. Signing Michael Thomas to a new contract shows that the team is committed to playing at a championship level after Drew Brees hangs up the cleats for good. But at what price shall the team re-sign Michael Thomas at once serious negotiations begin? Here is what Saints ESPN beat writer Mike Triplett had to say in regards to the organization possibly extending Thomas.
Thomas’ next contract could be in the neighborhood of $20 million per year. Even if the Saints use the franchise tag on him next year, that could cost around $18 million (with all of it counting against the salary cap). As such, the Saints need to practice some disciplined spending when free agency kicks off in two weeks.
They have about $10 million to $12 million in salary-cap space right now. They’ll need to be careful about pushing too many salary-cap costs into the future, as they have done in the recent past.
Read Full Article by Mike Tripllet at ESPN.Com.
This is where the situation can become tricky. The organization has never spent 20 million dollars on a wide receiver during the Sean Payton Era. The reason is that the Saints are an organization that develops wide receivers through the draft and quickly move on from them when they can no longer contribute.
Based on what we have seen from the Saints, the team needs elite options at skilled positions such as wide receiver and tight end. Quarterback Drew Brees is not at the level of where he can make wide receivers that would be the third and fourth options on other teams, impact players with the Saints.
That’s why they went out and sign Pro Bowl tight end Jared Cook during the free agency period. Also, let us not forget that players such as Alvin Kamara, Marshone Lattimore, and Sheldon Rankins will be seeking new contracts as well. It’s going to be important that the Saints re-sign all three of those players mentioned, especially with the possibility of Drew Brees retiring after this season. The team needs to keep as many core players as they can going forward.
The Lil’Jordan Humphrey Factor
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Photo Courtesy of the USA Today
As crazy as it sounds, the Saints signed undrafted wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey to replace Michael Thomas. The statement I just made was pure speculation plain and straightforward. Do you believe that the Saints want to pay Michael Thomas 20 million dollars guaranteed? If a player is not a quarterback, offensive lineman, or an edge rusher, the team’s are reluctant to give out that type of money. Lil’Jordan Humphrey is listed at 6’4 225 lbs out of the University of Texas. His draft stock fell significantly after having a horrible performance at the NFL Combine. He was picked up by the Saints as an undrafted free agent shortly after the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The coaching staff believes that with the proper guidance, Humphrey can become a crucial contributor in the Saints passing game. He is capable of doing some of the things that Michael Thomas can do lining up from the slot position. Trust me; if Lil’Jordan Humphrey or Tre’Quan Smith can live up to their potential in 2019, the Saints shall listen to offers so that they can trade Michael Thomas.
If a team can get production from a player that’s on a rookie deal, they will move on from a veteran player that is seeking a new contract. Today’s NFL franchises are constructed in a way that they build playoff contending teams by maximizing players production while on a rookie deal. Can the Saints remain competitive after re-signing Michael Thomas? I believe they can, but the way the team addresses other important positions after they re-sign him will be a crucial indicator going forward.
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