Chicago Bears Option No.3: Michael Thomas
If the Chicago Bears are really looking to make a splash at wide receiver this offseason, they will have to look beyond free agency. Saints wideout Michael Thomas has been rumored to be on the trading block. New Orleans does not have a first-round pick in this upcoming draft and has negative cap space for the 2023 season. This is why trading Thomas is a real possibility.
Whether or not the Bears are buyers in the Thomas market will largely come down to the asking price. At first, it may seem certain that a receiver of Thomas’ caliber would require significant assets. However, the Saints have no leverage here. The relationship between Thomas and New Orleans has been shaky since 2020, and given the Saints’ current cap situation, it is a statement of fact that they will need to make some serious moves to get under the cap.
On top of all of this, Thomas has only played in 10 games in the last three seasons. The trade will also be determined by how much of Thomas’ massive contact the Saints are willing to take on. The less New Orleans is willing to pay, the less the Bears will have to give up.
Thomas’ recent injury history may scare many fans away, but for a third-round pick, the reward far outweighs the risk. Thomas is a nuanced route runner and is still one of the best-possession receivers in football when healthy. With that said, there are other trade candidates that would make more sense for Chicago.