For the first time in his NFL career, Michael Thomas is a free agent.
After eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints, the former Ohio State wide receiver was released on Wednesday. Several stories state that Thomas was released after his physical designation was unsuccessful.
The release of Thomas was anticipated. The modified contract that Thomas signed with the Saints last season, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, was set up such that the team would have to release him on Wednesday, giving him the opportunity to try his hand at the free market for the first time in his NFL career.
Thomas began his NFL career with a bang, catching 470 passes for 5,512 yards and 32 touchdowns in his first four seasons after being selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. After breaking the league record for the most receptions in a single season in 2019 with 149 receptions for 1,725 yards, Thomas was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Thomas was selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2017 to 2019.
When Thomas inked a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Saints prior to the 2019 season, which kept him in New Orleans through this past season, he became the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.
However, Thomas’s past four years have been marked by recurrent ailments following his record-breaking 2019 campaign. With only 20 games played since 2020, he has only caught 141 catches for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns. He recently had his 2023 season cut short in early November due to a knee ailment.
Thomas, who turned 31 earlier this month, will now try to work with a new organization to restart his NFL career.
On Wednesday, his team released him along with another former Ohio State player. In addition, Vonn Bell was formally released on Wednesday following the Carolina Panthers’ decision to cut ties with the former Ohio State safety on Monday.