Saints to release Jameis Winston, Michael Thomas in procedural moves Wednesday

As was expected, the Saints will release Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas in procedural moves on Wednesday. Here’s what it means for the salary cap:

We knew this was coming, but now it’s confirmed, and there’s no going back. The New Orleans Saints will be releasing quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Michael Thomas on Wednesday with post-June 1 designations, per Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, making both of them unrestricted free agents. A number of other players around the league are being let go with the same designation, including Odell Beckham Jr.

It’s unclear whether Thomas was given permission to begin speaking with other teams prior to being released, like Winston, but that’s a reasonable assumption. In Winston’s case, he already knows where he’ll be playing football in 2024: the Cleveland Browns. Winston has agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million. He’ll be backing up Deshaun Watson who is still recovering from season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder in 2023.

Teams are only allowed to designate two releases as post-June 1 cuts each offseason, which is done for accounting purposes to help manage the salary cap. Here are the remaining salary cap hits the Saints will carry in 2024 and 2025 after moving on from both players:

  • 2024: $15.69 million in total. $11.1 million (for Thomas) and $4.59 million (for Winston). This is about 6.1% of the salary cap
  • 2025: $16.54 million in total. $9.18 million (for Thomas) and $7.36 million (for Winston). This is about 5.9% of an estimated $280 million salary cap

It’s frustrating to lose so much salary cap space for players no longer on the roster, but that’s the cost of doing business sometimes. And things will get a little easier for the Saints on June 2, at which point they will get some cap relief. They’ll receive a $2.42 million cap credit for both players’ base salaries coming off the books, which can go towards signing their rookie draft class.

We’ll see what’s next for both of them, and for the Saints. Players come and go but the NFL’s calendar keeps moving on.

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New Orleans Saints intend to release wide receiver Michael Thomas

The New Orleans Saints plan to release Michael Thomas, per the Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Jeff Duncan. This split has been a long time coming:

Here’s what we’ve been expecting: The New Orleans Saints intend to release wide receiver Michael Thomas, as first reported by the Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Jeff Duncan. Duncan says that Thomas has already caught his last pass in a Saints uniform, and that it’s a matter of when, not if, the team will let him go.

Expect the move to be processed as a post-June 1 cut. For accounting purposes, Thomas will remain on the books with a $12.4 million salary cap hit despite being a free agent with the opportunity to sign with other teams. On June 2, the Saints will receive $3.4 million in savings while counting $8.9 million against the cap in dead money this season, deferring $9.1 million onto the 2025 salary cap. If the Saints don’t use that designation, Thomas would count for $18.1 million against this year’s cap total.

A split makes the most sense for everyone. Thomas did his part to help the team in recruiting Derek Carr last offseason, but the quarterback proved to be a poor fit with him by hesitating too often on the in-breaking routes that Thomas runs best. Frustration behind the scenes spilled over onto social media, and now the clock is ticking on everyone going their separate ways.

It’s such a shame. Thomas joined the Saints at the perfect time to help extend Drew Brees’ career, and he was on a trajectory that would have sent him to the Hall of Fame before injuries derailed his career. Even after being limited to just 20 games in the last four years, Thomas will leave the Saints with the second-most receptions (565) and fourth-most yards (6,569) in team history. His 36 career touchdown catches are seventh-most.

Five players have caught 500 or more passes in a Saints uniform, and Thomas is one of two with fewer than 10 fumbles (5), along with Joe Horn (7). There aren’t many receivers who, when at their best, have been as reliable and exciting to watch as Thomas. Injuries and off-the-field drama don’t change that.

Where will he go next? Hopefully a team in the AFC. Playoff contenders like the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs could use another experienced wideout. Wherever Thomas lands, we’ll be wishing him well — except when he’s playing against the Saints.

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Two AFC teams suggested as possible Michael Thomas landing spots

All signs point to Michael Thomas leaving the Saints. If he becomes a free agent, ESPN reports that the Ravens are seen as a good fit for him:

Where is Michael Thomas going to play football inn 2024? All signs point to the New Orleans Saints splitting ways with their longtime wideout, whose career has been interrupted by a series of frustrating injuries and subpar quarterback play in the years after Drew Brees’ retirement. The Saints must choose whether to extend Thomas’ contract or release him from it when free agency begins in a few weeks.

And that’s going to give Thomas his first opportunity to choose his team since the Saints drafted him out of Ohio State back in 2016. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there are two squads in the AFC who could be good matches for Thomas:

Michael Thomas‘ contract with the Saints is set to void, making him a free agent. A few scouts pointed out Baltimore as a good fit. The Ravens likely won’t re-sign Odell Beckham Jr., and they value established veterans at the receiver position. But a reunion with former New Orleans coach Sean Payton in Denver also makes sense. “When he’s out there and healthy, he affects the game,” an NFC scout said.

Of those two options, Baltimore feels far more likely. Thomas would immediately have seniority in their young receiving corps while working into their offense as a reliable possession receiver. He could mentor younger teammates like Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman just like he has helped guide Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed in New Orleans. And the opportunity to work with Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, has to be appealing.

It would be a big surprise to see Thomas play for Payton again. One of the first missions Dennis Allen undertook as Saints head coach was travel cross-country to meet with Thomas and mend fences after the receiver’s relationship with Payton went up in flames. Much of Thomas’ grievances with the organization — dating back to his first injury, when he was rolled up on while blocking for a teammate in a blowout victory — trace back to Payton.

And if you’re curious, the Saints will host the Broncos for a home game at the Caesars Superdome in 2024, but they aren’t going to play the Ravens again until 2026 at the soonest. “Revenge games” are overblown narratives but it’s something to keep in mind depending on where Thomas ends up.

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Saints free agent preview: WR Michael Thomas, stay or go?

Our New Orleans Saints free agent previews continue with Michael Thomas. He can still play, but Derek Carr may not be the best QB fit for him:

All signs point to this being the end of the road for the New Orleans Saints and Michael Thomas. His contract was structured in such a way to make it easier on the team’s salary cap to release him in March, and his comments on social media about the team’s coaching staff and quarterback don’t paint a picture of someone eager to run it back.

If so, it’s a shame. Thomas was on a trajectory that would have sent him to the Pro Football Hall of Fame before a series of unfortunate injuries derailed his career. He did the work to be a good teammate, buying into what Dennis Allen was selling and doing his part to recruit Derek Carr to New Orleans while mentoring younger players on the roster. Now it’s looking like things are coming to an end.

Still, it’s worth looking back on his last season in a Saints uniform and objectively arguing whether or not he should return again in 2024. Let’s keep this series going:

Derek Carr responds to Michael Thomas: ‘I probably didn’t throw the best ball’

Derek Carr says he understands why Michael Thomas became so frustrated last season, taking accountability for throwing a poor pass on the receiver’s season-ending injury:

Michael Thomas raised an uproar on social media this week when he publicly criticized the New Orleans Saints — taking aim at the play calling, coaching decisions, and quarterback Derek Carr, all of which he blamed for his poor production in 2023. It’s likely going to be his last year in black and gold.

To his credit, Carr didn’t disagree with Thomas’ assessment. He responded to the criticism during an appearance on the Two Gs in a Pod show with James Jones and Amber Theoharis. Carr took some accountability for the play that resulted in a season-ending injury to Thomas, which the receiver described as being “set up by a bad ball.”

“I probably didn’t throw the best ball. If that’s how he wants to view it and how he wants to see it, completely fine by me,” Carr said. Carr placed the ball too high and too far behind his target, requiring Thomas to awkwardly contort in midair to try and make a play. His legs tangled up with those of the defender covering him, which led to Thomas’ left leg initially catching in the turf before whipping around painfully, injuring his knee. A lower pass leading Thomas in stride could have lessened the risk of injury.

Thomas also pointed out that the Saints weren’t making an effort to get him the ball last season, which Carr validated. Their younger second-year wideout Chris Olave was the focal point of the offense, not Thomas.

Carr continued: “I also understand that when I came in the building we had Chris Olave, who they were trying to train to be the number-one guy. So all of a sudden, every rep and every read in practice is Chris first. And as a superstar that Mike is and as he has been, I can understand you’re dealing with all the injury noise, you’re dealing with Chris becoming the guy — and he loves Chris, that’s his guy at Ohio State and all that — but I can understand where the frustration starts to build. I understand where all those things begin to take place.”

No position is more dependent factors outside their control than wide receiver. They can’t draw up the plays to have the ball go their way, and they can’t throw it to themselves. If a receiver is stuck playing with a bad quarterback or play caller their numbers are going to suffer for it. It’s why the position generates so many big personalities. Like it or not, it’s an approach a lot of receivers take. As Brandin Cooks expressed back in 2016, “Closed mouths don’t get fed.”

Still, Carr adds, he wishes Thomas had reached out privately to hash out these frustrations rather than aired them online. If this it for them as teammates, Carr said he wishes Thomas all the best: “I hope Mike finds what he’s looking for. I hope he gets everything he wants, in life, because I do love Mike. But in that moment I didn’t really like it. Just call me bro.”

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Michael Thomas says he was ‘set up by a bad ball’ on season-ending injury

Michael Thomas says he was ‘set up by a bad ball’ on a season-ending injury. Derek Carr’s hospital balls were a problem in 2023:

It’s not an NFL Sunday without a little New Orleans Saints drama — even after the team’s season has ended. Michael Thomas stirred the pot while chatting with fans on social media about his rough 2023 campaign, sharing his take on the season-ending knee injury.

Thomas said that he “probably would’ve had a light little (1,000) yards this year” had he not injured his knee early in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings, but he didn’t take the blame for getting hurt. Instead, he pointed to quarterback Derek Carr, saying he had been “set up by a bad ball.”

It was a rough play. The ball was thrown high and behind him, so Thomas had to adjust by turning his back to the defensive back and extending vertically to reach the ball. Vikings corner Akayleb Evans collided with him, tangling their legs, and one of Thomas’ cleats caught in the turf on his way down, awkwardly twisting his knee. He exited the game and did not return.

On top of that, Thomas says the Saints weren’t making an effort to get him the ball. After being targeted 7, 8, 7, and 7 times, he was thrown to only once the week before this Vikings game. He averaged a career-low 3.9 receptions and 44.8 yards per game last season prior to his injury, putting him pace for just 66 catches and 761 yards over 17 games. That had to be disappointing after Thomas played a key role recruiting Carr to New Orleans, a signing which he celebrated on social media. Thomas compared Carr to Drew Brees after they first practiced together.

Unfortunately, Carr isn’t effective throwing passes on the routes that Thomas runs best: in-breaking crossers and slants where he can use his physicality and large frame to bully smaller defenders. His scattershot accuracy got his receivers hurt throughout the season; Rashid Shaheed suffered a quad strain and Chris Olave sprained his ankle when adjusting to off-target passes. It’s disappointing that it’s come to this but Thomas is right to feel this way. If Carr had thrown a better ball (and thrown his way more often), he may have enjoyed more success in 2023. Instead, Thomas is very likely playing elsewhere in 2024.

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Michael Thomas shares a pointed criticism on social media

Michael Thomas shared a pointed criticism on social media, calling out those who accept mediocrity over high achievers:

Michael Thomas shared a message carrying pointed criticism on social media Tuesday morning, in posts on both Instagram and the platform formerly known as Twitter (currently X) that sure seem to be aimed at the New Orleans Saints.

“People who accept mediocrity don’t like high achievers and high achievers don’t like people who accept mediocrity,” Thomas wrote. “If you are going to talk about setting the bar you must be willing to hold the bar.”

Now, that could mean anything. But it’s tough to read it as anything but criticism of head coach Dennis Allen and Saints quarterback Derek Carr, as well as general manager Mickey Loomis for standing behind both of them. Carr struggled through the first three months of the 2023 season but was repeatedly defended by his coach and GM, which reportedly rankled other players in the locker room.

And low standards have been the story of the Saints as of late. They’ve missed the playoffs in each of the first two years with Allen as head coach despite facing the easiest schedule in the NFL. They barely won nine games this season, Allen’s first winning season in five years a head coach. At a time when better coaches like Mike Vrabel, Pete Carroll, and Bill Belichick are getting shown the door, Loomis appears committed to standing by Allen. Carr has never won a playoff game after a decade in the NFL. Allen has lost 46 of his 70 games as a head coach. By all accounts the Saints plan to run it back with both of them.

That has to be frustrating for highly competitive pros in the locker room like Thomas. He knows what high standards look like, having seen them firsthand while working hard to break NFL records with Drew Brees and Sean Payton early in his career. That winning culture has deteriorated over time, and Allen’s poor influence on the locker room has openly set it to rot.

Thomas was a key figure in recruiting Carr to New Orleans, so you have to imagine there’s some sort of buyer’s remorse at play when the quarterback didn’t meet expectations for much of the season — particularly in getting the ball to Thomas, hesitating to throw passes on the quick in-breaking routes that Thomas thrives with. The Saints did structure their last extension with Thomas so that there’s an option for him to return in 2024, but if the choice is Thomas or Allen and Carr, well: we might have seen the last of No. 13.

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Jameis Winston labels Michael Thomas as an irreplaceable part of the Saints offense

Michael Thomas will miss some time with a knee injury. Jameis Winston calls Thomas irreplaceable, but knows how the Saints have a plan for surviving his absence:

When discussing the absence of New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (who head coach Dennis Allen said “will take some time” recovering from a knee injury), Saints quarterback Jameis Winston didn’t mince words. Winston said he’s been “in New Orleans for four years and they still haven’t been able to replace Michael Thomas,” during his Monday locker room media availability.

Chris Olave being on the team makes this statement even more powerful. Olave is the team’s leading receiver with 94 targets, 56 receptions, and 657 yards, but Thomas’ impact can’t be understated. Thomas has been the most consistent receiver on the team, despite shotty usage. He also has a different build at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds than Olave (6-foot-0, 187 pounds) and Rashid Shaheed (6-foot-0, 180 pounds). There are assignments and plays the Saints can call for Thomas that his teammates can’t be expected to achieve.

Winston outlined a committee as the route to replacing Thomas’ production; the Saints recently re-signed wide receivers Keith Kirkwood and Marquez Callaway, but the most intriguing member of that committee is rookie draft pick A.T. Perry. Winston said that “Perry was brought in for this situation.”

Last week, Perry recorded his first catch and receiving touchdown of his career. It won’t just be Perry replacing Thomas’ role, however. That’s not fair to ask of the first-year pro. Replacing Michael Thomas will be difficult and may not ever be done. The sooner he’s back in the lineup, the better.

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Report: Saints ‘played it safe’ with Michael Thomas knee injury

Report: Saints ‘played it safe’ with Michael Thomas, wide receiver avoided serious knee injury vs. Vikings

Here’s some good news: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas avoided a serious knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, who adds that the Saints chose to “play it safe” with Thomas and keep him on the sidelines after evaluating him. That makes sense given his injury history, the state of the game, and a bye week promising extra rest coming up next.

And fewer snaps for Thomas meant more opportunities for rookie wideout A.T. Perry, who responded appropriately. Perry’s first NFL reception gained 23 yards and converted a first down. His second catch scored a 13-yard touchdown. He’s doing everything he can to earn the trust of his quarterbacks and coaches, even if he’s got room to improve; Perry dropped a pass late in the game when a Vikings defender hit him at the catch point.

But let’s keep the focus on Thomas. He lost years of his prime to a series of complicated ankle injuries, but he’s already played his most snaps (490) since his record-setting 2019 campaign (942). He may not be the superstar receiver he once was, but he’s been an important player for the Saints this season and the offense is better with him in the lineup. It’s early but signs point to Thomas being available when the Saints regroup after their bye week.

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Saints rule out Michael Thomas (knee) after halftime vs. Vikings

The Saints downgraded Michael Thomas (knee) after halftime, saying he would not return against the Vikings:

Things went from bad to worse for the New Orleans Saints. After initially announcing he was questionable to return to Week 10’s game with the Minnesota Vikings due to a knee injury, the team downgraded Michael Thomas and ruled out the wide receiver for the remainder of the game.

The offense could really use him. They struggled to get the other receivers going through the first half but they’ll have to go the rest of the way without him. Rookie draft pick A.T. Perry was the next man up at receiver behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Let’s see what he can do.

Thomas hasn’t dealt with any injury issues this year after a series of ankle problems interrupted his career, so hopefully this isn’t a significant ailment. It’s possible the Saints chose to approach the situation conservatively given the large deficit with the bye week up next. We’ll look out for an update on his status.

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