The rich got richer last year when the New Orleans Saints drafted Michael Thomas in the second round, and he went on to have one of the greatest rookie seasons of any wide receiver in NFL history.
The Saints’ receiving corps of Thomas, Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Brandon Coleman is the ultimate combination -- really good, really deep, really young and really cheap.
That’s why receivers come in at No. 11 in my position-by-position rankings of the Saints’ offseason needs.
Current depth chart:
Brandin Cooks. Age 23, signed through 2017 (Saints control option for 2018). 2017 salary and bonuses: $1.56 million. 2017 salary-cap number: $2.67 million.
Michael Thomas. Age 23, signed through 2019. 2017 salary and bonuses: $682,681. 2017 salary-cap number: $1.16 million.
Willie Snead. Age 24, exclusive rights free agent.
Brandon Coleman. Age 24, exclusive rights free agent.
Tommylee Lewis. Age 24, scheduled to be restricted free agent in 2019. 2017 salary and bonuses: $540,000. 2017 salary-cap number: $541,666.
Jake Lampman. Age 23, scheduled to be exclusive rights free agent in 2018. 2017 salary and bonuses: $540,000. 2017 salary-cap number: $540,000.
Corey Fuller. Age 26, scheduled to be restricted free agent in 2018. 2017 salary and bonuses: $690,000. 2017 salary-cap number: $690,000.
Jordan Williams-Lambert. Age 22, scheduled to be exclusive rights free agent in 2018. 2017 salary and bonuses: $465,000. 2017 salary-cap number: $465,000.
Rashad Lawrence. Age 24, scheduled to be exclusive rights free agent in 2018. 2017 salary and bonuses: $465,000. 2017 salary-cap number: $465,000.
Analysis:
Cooks, Thomas and Snead have quickly emerged as one of the best trios in the NFL. They combined for more catches (242) and yards (3,205) than any other trio in the league last year. Cooks and Thomas each topped 1,100 yards. And Thomas’ 92 catches were the second-most of any rookie receiver in NFL history, behind only Anquan Boldin's 101 in 2003.
This group is a really good mix of skillsets, too, with Thomas a big, physical target, Cooks a dynamic speedster and Snead a reliable slot receiver who can do a little bit of everything.
And like I said, they’re cheap -- for now. But the Saints will have to start making some big financial decisions soon.
First, the Saints need to consider whether they want to offer more than just minimum-salary qualifying tenders to Snead and Coleman for the 2017 season. If not, they’ll both become restricted free agents next year.
Then, this spring, the Saints need to decide whether to exercise their 2018 option on Cooks, which would cost about $8 million.
Chances are, they will do it, because Cooks is still a bargain at that rate. But his price tag will only continue to rise from there. So it will be interesting to see how long the Saints plan on investing big bucks in him or if they even consider the possibility of trading him at some point.
As I wrote earlier this week, I don’t expect Cooks to be traded, but it’s not out of the question -- especially after Cooks expressed some frustration with his role last season.
Unless that happens, though, the Saints probably won’t invest anything significant in the receiver position in free agency or the draft this year -- with the exception of bringing in a receiver who is really more of a kick-return or punt-return specialist, spots where they could really use an upgrade.
Previous rankings:
No. 12, Specialists