The Denver Broncos may be set at the wide receiver position right now. They have 12 currently on the roster and would likely be fine going into training camp with that group.
But adding quality depth should always be considered and there is a player who is available and has ties to Sean Payton that makes sense for the Broncos to take a look at. That is former New Orleans Saints All-Pro Michael Thomas.
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The Saints released Thomas in March after playing for the team for eight seasons, most of which under Payton. He was the team's second-round pick in 2016 (No. 47 overall) out of Ohio State.
Injuries greatly slowed the career of Thomas. Following a record-breaking season in 2019, an ankle injury in 2020 started a downward spiral that he never seemed to recover from. He caught 149 passes in 2019, an NFL record that currently stands.
Denver Broncos should consider Michael Thomas as a free agent
What made Thomas successful in New Orleans was his ability to get open on shorter routes. He created great chemistry with Drew Brees and the two connected at an alarming rate. If Payton is looking to duplicate that in Denver, a similar connection between Thomas and Bo Nix is not hard to envision.
Nix often drew comparisons to Brees while in college and has been brought to Denver in what many see as a perfect fit for what Payton likes to do. Payton bringing in an experienced pro who knows the intricacies of his offense makes plenty of sense.
The Broncos have a solid wide receiving corps with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr, Tim Patrick, and rookie Troy Franklin. The team also has experienced players in Brandon Johnson, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Phillip Dorsett along with several young players fighting for a roster spot.
If the Broncos are interested, they may want to act quickly as it appears other teams around the league could be starting to sniff around.
Thomas could also be seen as a safety net in case things go further south with Sutton. He has been open about wanting a new deal and has been the subject of potential trade talks.
Thomas' best days are definitely behind him, but he wouldn't need to be 'the guy' in Denver like he was in New Orleans. If he could be the guy that Payton called on when he needed a play from a guy who has made those plays many times before, in front of his own two eyes, that could be invaluable to this young, growing squad.
