Cowboys 'Blockbuster' Trade for Saints WR Michael Thomas Proposed; Does Move Fit?
FRISCO - Injuries and controversies have created for New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas a downward spiral from his heyday period at the end of the last decade.
His numbers (including a 149-catch season in 2019) bordered on the incredible. At 6-3, 212, his combination of size and grace bordered on the unmatchable. He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 and he's been All-Pro twice.
But as he approaches age 31, all of that seems like a long time ago.
Could the Dallas Cowboys take a stab at a trade that might resuscitate his career?
The suggestion comes from our friends at Blogging the Boys believes. It is delivered without a mention of what the Cowboys might give up in trade, and that might be handy ... because we would suggest the Cowboys would give up virtually nothing in trade.
Thomas has played just 20 games in the last four seasons, has found himself in conflict with his Saints bosses, and last season settled for a salary reduction from $15.5 million to $1.165 million (but with a massive roster bonus of $32 million as part of some cap manipulation, still a sign of a coming goodbye). He did manage to play in 10 games and caught 39 balls for one TD, so he was largely insignificant.
Can he be significant again? One more time?
The Saints would probably like to do a salary dump here, but even a post-June 1 trade means they eat $6 million. If they're done with him, they might as well try to trade him, as cutting him incurs the same penalty. So that part is solvable for New Orleans.
But why would Dallas want to take on a player with any sort of substantial cap hit?
The Saints are $84 million over the projected 2024 salary cap. They could use that $6 million in exchange for a faded star they likely don't want. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are $20 million over the cap ... and creating more problems there for a player who in Thomas probably isn't superior to prospective Dallas third receiver Jalen Tolbert seems unnecessary.
If and when the Saints outright cut Michael Thomas? This idea will merit deeper consideration.
