The New Orleans Saints are in a bit of turmoil right now after Michael Thomas is due to miss the first portion of the 2021 regular season, per Ian Rapoport. Thomas decided to receive surgery for his ankle he hurt last September, however, he waited until June 2021 to do so. This means the Saints will be without their star receiver to being the year and it looks like he won't be due back until October.
New Orleans is in a weird position right now. The wide receiver room isn't great by any means now that Thomas is out of the equation. However, they still have Alvin Kamara and the coaching staff is hopeful that Adam Trautman can be a consistent target as a tight end. However, the Saints still haven't named their starting quarterback, so the franchise is surrounded by uncertainty.
Due to the lack of talent in the receiver group, the Saints are likely to sign a veteran free agent before the start of the preseason. According to Mike Garafolo, the Saints are already scouring the free-agent landscape.
In light of the Michael Thomas news, the #Saints have been nosing around free-agent wide receivers, sources say. Expect them to at least work out a few in the coming days.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 23, 2021
We'll see who the Saints sign soon, but for now it's up in the air. The coaching staff is likely to work out a handful of receivers before making their decision. With that said, here are four wide receivers the Saints should sign in Michael Thomas' absence.
Golden Tate isn't the most prolific name, but he's the most realistic. He didn't play particularly well with the New York Giants last year, as he recorded just 388 yards and two touchdowns off of 35 receptions. Even so, Tate has the experience to be a veteran leader for the Saints' young receiving core. He's a solid route runner and could do well with underneath routes and serve as a safety blanket for whoever starts at quarterback in New Orleans.
Dez Bryant had to fight his way back to the league after suffering an achilles injury in 2018. He played six games for the Baltimore Ravens and was only targeted 11 times. Although, he did reel in two touchdowns on the season, making him a potential red-zone threat for anyone who signs him. If the Saints bring Bryant into the lineup, things could look different for him. The Ravens are a run-heavy offense whereas the Saints throw the ball a lot more. Having Bryant join a pass-heavy team could make him a solid pass option in New Orleans' offense.
It's still unclear whether or not Larry Fitzgerald announces his retirement or not. It's late July and the season is right around the corner. He hasn't made the official announcement yet, so there is reason to believe he plays at least one more season. With Michael Thomas out of the equation to start the year, the Saints could come calling for Fitzgerald as a possible replacement.
He still has to be cleared to play in the NFL as Josh Gordon continues to fail drug tests. He did mention how he wants to make a comeback to the NFL, but this is a longshot for the Saints. Gordon would be the most exciting free agent acquisition, but the Saints likely don't have the time to wait for him to get cleared by the NFL. Even so, he's a receiver the team should keep an eye on.
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