The Atlanta Falcons should consider stealing a hated former rival

Michael Thomas was much maligned by Atlanta Falcons fans as a player who only ran one route. It’s true that Thomas was force-fed the tilts and variations of football that simply put the ball in his hands and let him create.

Drew Brees was elite at putting Thomas in perfect timing and the receiver made the most of his chances. While there is some truth to his limited skill set, the truth remains that Thomas was a star player in this league. At one point, he was in the same conversation as Julio Jones and Antonio Brown as the best receiver in the league.

Since then, usage rates have taken their toll and injuries have derailed his career. Now a free agent, Thomas is looking for a landing spot to prove he has something left in the tank. Signing Thomas with Atlanta would be an interesting twist as the franchises head in opposite directions.

Far too often, Sean Payton and Drew Brees have gotten the better of Atlanta. It would be fitting to steal one of the key pieces from the previous regime as the Saints continue to move toward an inevitable rebuild.

While this makes sense from a story and rivalry perspective, it’s also a very in-depth chart. The Falcons lack depth at receiver with Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore locked into the top spots. After London and Mooney, any spot could be up for grabs, including Thomas working his way up to the third spot on the depth chart.

Michael Thomas in an Atlanta Falcons uniform would be a strange and slightly unsettling sight. However, it steals a key piece from a division rival and gives a motivated Thomas a chance to play a big role and have a chance to get revenge for how the franchise ended his time in New Orleans.