Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

NFL insider Ian Rapoport explains why a Michael Thomas trade would be complicated

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Michael Thomas’ offseason continues to go poorly with some reports beginning to surface that the former All-Pro receiver wants to be traded from the New Orleans Saints.

Following his record-breaking season in 2019, Thomas saw his 2020 derailed with injuries. He appeared in just seven games with 438 yards receiving, the only season of his career below 1,000 yards.

Unfortunately, the ankle injury that Thomas dealt with in 2020 was unable to be rehabbed early in the offseason. That led Thomas to get surgery in June but meant he will likely be unavailable until Week 7 of the NFL season.

A lack of communication throughout Thomas’ attempted rehab has contributed to the weakening relationship between Thomas and the Saints. However, a potential trade involving Thomas remains “complicated,” according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

“The fact that Michael Thomas had surgery in June is not anything that made anyone happy,” explained Rapoport. “The team thought and believed he was going to have surgery right after the season and be fine for training camp…The fact that he seemed to not be upfront with the organization throughout, none of this is good.

“Then the question is, of course, are they going to move forward with him or are they going to trade him? I would say that a trade is certainly not off the table at some point…but it is complicated.”

Will we see Thomas suit up for a different NFL team in the future now that Drew Brees is retired?

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.