The Kansas City Chiefs are in need of a big-body receiver who can be physical outside the numbers to play alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore in 2023. One analyst wrote that the defending Super Bowl champions could pursue two-time All-Pro Michael Thomas, who could soon make his way out of his contract with the New Orleans Saints.
“Thomas could take a page out of the notebook of JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was able to capitalize on the brilliance of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense and get his career back on track after playing just five games in 2021,” PFF’s Brad Spielberger wrote in a story published February 17.
“Here, in the absence of any team stepping up with a significant multi-year offer, the Chiefs take a flier on Thomas and he makes the best decision to max out his 2023 campaign before re-entering free agency.”
Michael Thomas a Likely Cut Candidate for New Orleans Saints in 2023
Thomas, 29, entered the league as a second-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2016. With quarterback Drew Brees under center for the start of his career, Thomas burst onto the NFL scene with four straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career, including 2019, when he was named All-Pro and the AP Offensive Player of the Year after registering 149 receptions, 1,725 yards and 9 touchdowns.
The problem with Thomas, however, is what has happened since the 2019 season.
It all started in September 2020, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain. Since then, he has missed a total of 39 regular season games due to various lower-body injuries, most of which were in his foot. His most recent injury — a toe dislocation — knocked him out of the 2022 season after just three regular season games.
In January, Thomas restructured his $96 million contract with the Saints to provide the team with some short-term cap relief this offseason. However, his adjusted contract will pay him $60 million over the next year, according to Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football.com.
With an insanely large cap number on the horizon for Thomas, a divorce between the former All-Pro and New Orleans seems likely. That means Thomas could become a free agent this offseason and can sign with whichever team he wants.
Enter the Chiefs.
Some more details on Michael Thomas’ updated contract.
There is also another $30 million bonus if he is active for four games next season to go along with the $31 million roster bonus we already know about.
So, if the Saints keep him, it would cost more than $60 million.
Should Chiefs Pursue Thomas If He’s Cut?
Thomas has already publicly praised the Chiefs’ training and medical staff.
“Travis Kelce said amazing things about you guys when I picked his brain on my ankle injury. He said you guys did everything and more! Respect,” Thomas tweeted on February 18 in response to a tweet from Rick Burkholder, the vice president of sports medicine and performance.
Based on his recent injury history, Kansas City could offer Thomas an incentive-ladened contract that keeps his cap number lower but pays him substantial money if he stays on the field and produces at a high level next season. That could protect the Chiefs from getting burned financially if injuries pop up again for Thomas, and it gives Thomas an opportunity to prove himself and potentially earn a massive payday in 2024 if he decides to re-enter free agency.
Thomas still needs to be cut for the Chiefs to have a chance at signing him.
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Chiefs Predicted to Sign $96 Million WR & 2-Time All-Pro