The Kansas City Chiefs still have an opportunity to bolster their receiving corps for Patrick Mahomes through free agency, according to Devon Platana of KC Kingdom.
Platana suggests that the Chiefs should consider adding veteran wide receiver Michael Thomas before the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
“Thomas also hasn’t been playing with a quality QB since he was paired with Drew Brees. I’m not saying that Mahomes would turn him into a 1,700-yard receiver again, but I think the duo could catch a lot of people off guard and that makes it an option worth exploring.”
At 31 years old, Thomas was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round, 47th overall, in 2016. During his early years in the league, Thomas, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 212 pounds, emerged as a dominant force in the Saints’ passing game alongside quarterback Drew Brees. He kicked off his NFL career with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and secured two All-Pro selections.
However, Thomas has faced setbacks due to injuries, which have impacted his playing time since 2020. In fact, he has missed a total of 46 regular-season games, including the entirety of the 2021 season.
Despite these challenges, Thomas managed to participate in double-digit games for the first time since 2019 during the 2023 season. Playing alongside Derek Carr, he recorded 39 receptions for 448 yards and 1 touchdown in 10 games.
Throughout his NFL career, Thomas has earned $72.5 million from his contracts, as reported by Spotrac. Despite not possessing the same explosiveness he once did, Thomas still showcases the size and ball skills necessary to contribute as a WR3 or WR4 for an offense when healthy.
Platana suggests that for the Chiefs to consider signing Thomas, certain conditions would need to be met. Firstly, Thomas would likely need to accept a contract at the veteran minimum, given his recent injury history. While Kansas City could include per-game roster bonuses in the offer, the guaranteed money would need to be minimal to minimize risk.
Additionally, Thomas would have to agree to join the Kansas City Chiefs after the NFL Draft, preferably by May 2 when free-agent signings no longer affect the compensatory formula. This timing would make Thomas a low-risk signing for the Chiefs and provide him with an opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl ring.
Despite his nine-year career, Thomas has never reached a Conference Championship or Super Bowl, making the prospect of playing for the two-time defending champions appealing.
Patrick Mahomes would likely be all in favor of giving Michael Thomas a shot to revitalize his career.
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