What is 6’3″ tall, 212 pounds, and going to have to bear the weight of enormous expectations? Ladies and gentlemen meet Saints rookie WR Michael Thomas. Not only is he a wide receiver drafted in the first two rounds, which always comes with great expectations, but Thomas is also coming on to the team in the same off-season that legendary Saints wide-out Marques Colston was released from the team (and presumably retired). Thomas is now going to not only to have to live up to the expectations that come naturally with a high pick, but he is also going to have to contend with one of the largest shadows in team history. The question for Thomas is not only can he live up to his lofty draft status, but can he become a trusted cog in the machine that is Sean Payton’s offense run by one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game.
Now to be clear here I am NOT going to make any bold predictions here, especially when I have yet to even see a single snap in preseason. But that doesn’t mean we can’t look at the traits that Thomas possesses and project how well those fit into the Saints offense and what he might be capable of. That’s really the only way to grade a pick this early in the process, and today we are going to go over some of those traits to see what a reasonable expectation for Thomas might be this year.
The Physical Traits:
Thomas is a big man (meaning one of Andrew’s favorite critiques of Cooks is OUT THE WINDOW) standing at 6’3″ and weighing a very solid 212 pounds Thomas has the look of a number one receiver. He also has the measurables of one. While be the first to bring the pro day numbers of any Urban Meyer player into question (they just seem to look better when he’s around), the fact is that Thomas ran in 4.4 range at his pro day, and most importantly on film his speed shows up. Lots of guys can run fast in a straight line, Thomas can PLAY fast. He brings a legit vertical element to the Saints offense opposite of Brandin Cooks that they haven’t had in a while.
Thomas isn’t just fast though, he’s fast AND big and that’s where the difference between him a Colston comes in. While the body type is similar, and I do expect him to have a somewhat similar impact in the red zone, Thomas is a very different animal from Marques (who was to give him credit fairly unique). Thomas also has massive hands (over ten inches) great body balance, and possesses the upper body strength to fight for contested passes (was the combines top performer among wide-outs). Thomas is really an ideal fit in this offense because his physical traits make him both versatile and dangerous. Payton is the ultimate scheme guru and when you give him a piece like Thomas who has the traits to be effective in multiple areas the possibilities become almost endless.
The Skills:
Thomas was grossly underutilized at Ohio State, and to be fair if I had Zeke Elliot I wouldn’t be throwing it much either. However, he should see not only a greater number of targets in New Orleans, but also a greater array of passes as Meyer preferred to give him mostly short passes and allow him to use his yards after the catch ability to create plays (another attribute the Saints haven’t had in a while). Thomas is actually a very adept route runner for a rookie, and I’m sure some of that can be attributed to his Uncle former pro-bowler Keyshawn Johnson. Thomas is one of the rare players taken high in the draft who definitely projects to be a much better pro than he was a player in college. Some of that is due to his combination of physical ability and advanced skill set, but it also has to do with landing in the right spot. I said a few years ago that Brandin Cooks couldn’t find a better fit for his skill set than here in New Orleans, and I’m going to say the same for Thomas.
He has great hands, runs not only solid routes, but runs a variety of them, is good after the catch, and is a physical player who isn’t afraid to fight for the ball. In other words Thomas is EXACTLY what this offense needs right now (other than acceptable Guard play on a consistent basis).
The Intangibles:
A recent theme with the Saints (and really just one they’ve gotten back to) is taking players who are not only talented, but who have high character and were leaders in college. Players like Rankins, Cooks, and Jordan are the kind of guys who don’t get in trouble, don’t get into it with their teammates and love the game. Michael Thomas fits right into that mold. Thomas, from what I’ve read/heard is a kid whose on the quieter side even though his game is loud. Thomas isn’t a big show boat and doesn’t seem to have the primadonna characteristics of his famous Uncle. However, one thing Thomas does have that all great WR have is an edge too him. By virtually every report out there Thomas is one of the most competitive players out there, and to such a degree that he inspired his former coach Urban Meyer to say he’s one of the fiercest competitor’s he’s ever coached. Remember for a second that Meyer coached Tebow, and say what you will about his ability as a QB, but if you are putting Thomas in THAT class of competitiveness then please sign me up.
He will fit perfectly on offense with players like Brees and Cooks who have not only an abundance of confidence, but an insatiable appetite for greatness. If Thomas can channel that competitiveness into his work ethic on and off the field then the Saints may have just hit a home run in the draft.
So What is Reasonable?
I’m not going to come out at this point and predict that Thomas will debut with a Thousand yards and 10 TD’s, however I also won’t say that it isn’t in the realm of possibility. I think a reasonable expectation for him should be in the 800 receiving yard range and between 6-8 TD’s. Where I really think he will have an impact is on third downs and in the red zone where he and Fleener can give Drew some great options. I honestly think his biggest impact will be how he frees up Cooks and Fleener though. With Thomas able to demand attention teams will have to pick their poison, and we all know when you give Drew weapons it doesn’t matter what they pick… they’re wrong.
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