New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas on verge of NFL's elite

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:31 p.m. ET

Fansided, Kyle Sumner McKinnon/FanSided via NFL Mocks

A historically productive rookie season has Michael Thomas already nearing elite status.

I don’t understand how Michael Thomas made it to the 47th pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

But I know there are 31 other teams who now wish they had him.

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Coming out of college, Thomas was widely regarded as the surest thing at his respective position in the draft. Yet, five wideouts were selected before the New Orleans Saints finally snatched him up.

In a crowded group of pass-catchers – including the talented Willie Snead, Brandin Cooks, and Coby Fleener – Thomas still managed to standout this past season. The former Ohio State star finished his rookie campaign 9th in receptions (92), 9th in receiving yards (1,137), and 6th in touchdowns (9).

Thomas wasn’t just a sure-thing.

There were points when he was practically unguardable, like his 10-catch, 154-yard performance against the NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons in Week 17.

It also only took one season for the 23-year-old to earn the trust of quarterback Drew Brees, something that hasn’t really happened since the days of Marques Colston. This makes sense, seeing as Thomas set new Saints rookie records in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Regardless, not many wideouts in all the NFL have his unique combination of size, athleticism, and soft hands. There isn’t a route he can’t run, there isn’t any catch he can’t make.

And his Twitter game is absolute fire, so that’s always a plus.

You have to really appreciate being the underdawg, it makes everything that much more worth it #shhhh

— Mike Thomas (@Cantguardmike) February 2, 2017

Not competing with anyone; my only goal is to be better than I use to be. #shhhh

— Mike Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 31, 2017

The choices you make always have to be worth the losses you'll take. #shhhh

— Mike Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 26, 2017

You either grind to stay relevant or you make excuses and be forgotten #shhhh

— Mike Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 23, 2017

As Thomas heads into Year Two, you should expect to see big things out of him, especially if he maintains the same level of confidence.

“I believed in myself,” Thomas said. “I play with a chip on my shoulder; I’ll never lose it. I felt like I kind of got slept on during the draft process, but everything happens for a reason and I’m here today. And I never gave up. I feel like that shows a lot of character, but I’m just going to just keep building on this year and put this behind me and try to build on it after Year One.”

So, go ahead, keep sleeping on him.

Because, as Thomas would say, #shhhh.