Michael Thomas rumors: Ranking seven potential landing spots if Saints look to trade disgruntled receiver

Where could the star wide receiver end up if things continue to sour in New Orleans?

Michael Thomas is one of the Saints' best and most accomplished players. But tension has seemingly been growing between the two sides for the better part of a year. An injury-riddled 2020 saw Thomas suspended by the team, and the star wide receiver reportedly ignored calls from Saints officials for months after the season. Now, with coach Sean Payton publicly lamenting Thomas delaying an offseason surgery that'll keep him sidelined into the fall, the wideout has implied the Saints are trying to "damage" his reputation. A year after ProFootballTalk reported the Saints may be willing to trade Thomas, there is no indication the club is actively looking to part ways with its No. 1 pass catcher. But a future split has also never seemed more possible. New Orleans is still built to contend but has survived without Thomas before. The Saints are also kicking off a new era with a new quarterback and still clawing their way out of a salary cap hole; trading Thomas would save them $1.2 million immediately, as well as a whopping $74.7M from 2022-2024. Potential suitors would obviously be betting on Thomas staying healthy once he returns from rehab, but his contract -- a five-year, $96.3M extension signed in 2019 -- shouldn't be a hold-up, considering he's owed zero guaranteed money after 2021.