It is officially draft week! That means that a large amount of trades this week and on draft day, is probable. The Green Bay Packers still enter this week with wide receiver as one of their biggest concerns. While it is likely that the Packers take a wide receiver in the draft, trading for one still isn’t out of the question.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has been a name loosely floated around this off-season as a trade at target. Michael Thomas is coming off a year in which he did not play a single snap. In 2021 Michael Thomas had nagging ankle injuries that prevented him from playing. However reports are that he is raring to go for the 2022 season. Michael Thomas is a name that legendary Packers safety LeRoy Butler mentioned as a name Green Bay should target.
What would a trade look like?
It is no secret that Michael Thomas was once a perennial all-pro in this league. In Thomas’ last full season he broke records. 2019: 149 receptions, over 1700 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Leading up to the 2020 season he accumulated four straight 92+ reception, and 1,100+ yard seasons.
However, with all that being said he has played seven games total since the end of the 2019 season. Seven games in 2020, and none in 2021. The Saints certainly would not be able to ask for a Davante Adams or Tyreek hill type of trade. Or if they did, they certainly wouldn’t get it. Proposed trade:
Packers receive:
- WR Michael Thomas
Saints received:
- 2022 Second Round pick
- 2022 Third Round pick
- 2023 Fourth Round pick
What is Thomas’ contract looking like?
Michael Thomas is currently in the middle of a long term contract he signed with the Saints back in 2019. The contract extends through 2024. His cap hit for the 2021 season is 13 million, however it jumps up to 27 and 28 million in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. It would certainly take some restructuring to keep him on the team past 2022… which Green Bay (Russ Ball) is good at.
Why would both sides agree to this?
For Green Bay, it is pretty simple. Get a perennial all-star back in Green Bay for the rest of Aaron Rodgers’ contract. For New Orleans, this gives them cap relief, which is much needed for them. And it also gives them draft capital now and in the future while they continue to search for their next franchise quarterback.
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8 Comments
Saints would actually lose cap space by trading Thomas. Michael Thomas ain’t going nowhere.
No way Packers would trade for a guy like that not a good guy not a good teammate not a good attitude never happened
Impossible trade with the restructure the Saints did. A pre June 1st trade for draft capital leaves the Saints with a massive dead cap hit of over 35 million, I believe.
Your an idiot if you think thats enough draft capital lol
I agree with Saintsfan. How did you get a this dumb idea approved. Must be a Packers’ fan!
I agree with the above, that’s light compensation for a guy who has led the league in catches every healthy year he’s played.. He’s coming back healthy and on a huge contract so first of all offer a bit more assets, second restructure his contract and take away that dead money hit and then we can negotiate.. MT isn’t going anywhere for 2 late day 2 picks!!
Agree with Saintsfan, also this guy obviously doesn’t do his homework the Saints don’t need cap space any longer.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Firstly, trading Thomas doesn’t save cap space since the majority of his money is from a signing bonus that’s spread out over upcoming years and is not transferable. Secondly, the compensation you propose for Thomas is laughable. At bare minimum it would require a 1st rd pick. Finally, the Saints aren’t in rebuilding mode so why give away a top player for pennies on the dollar.