When many talk and debate about the top wide receivers in the NFL, names such as Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr. and Larry Fitzgerald quickly come to mind.
Thanks to his stellar breakout season for the New Orleans Saints, WR Michael Thomas is set to finally emerge from the shadows and into the spotlight.
The 6’3, 212-pound former Ohio State Buckeye, selected 47th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, holds the league record for most receptions by a player in his first two seasons with 196.
Currently with 120 catches for 1,376 yards and nine touchdowns for the Saints this season, the 25-year-old, two-time Pro Bowl WR is developing into one of the league’s most dangerous, sure-handed go-to players. Whether it is being the nephew of former Super Bowl champion and first round pick, Keyshawn Johnson, to playing on a loaded 2014 Ohio State title squad that produced a 2016 draft class that had the likes of future NFL stars such as RB Ezequiel Elliott, DE Joey Bosa, QB/WR Braxton Miller, LB Darren Lee, DB Eli Apple, OT Taylor Decker, TE Nick Vannett, DT Adolphus Washington, SS Vonn Bell and QB Cardale Jones.
Overall, Thomas was part of a Buckeyes ’16 class that had five players taken in the first round (Bosa, Elliott, Apple, Decker and Lee) before being the sixth former Buckeye talent, and like many who balled down in Columbus, Thomas has produced on Sundays.
Thanks to being in the perfect system under Sean Payton and having the likes of future Hall of Fame QB in Drew Brees throwing to him, Thomas is no longer overshadowed by anyone, as he has now come fully into the light of elite greatness.
Based on his current numbers, if Thomas continues his current upward ascent, it may be soon time to add his name to the discussion of top WR’s in the game today.