2 min read • June 16, 2023
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The New Orleans Saints made a significant offseason move by signing QB Derek Carr to a four-year, $150 million contract, which includes $100 million in total guarantees. Carr, who was benched by the Las Vegas Raiders at the end of the previous season, needs to be given a comfortable environment to ensure the success of this substantial investment.
The comfort and effectiveness of a quarterback often depend on the quality of his receiving weapons. However, the Saints currently face several WR injuries that could potentially hinder Carr's early performances.
Saints WR Michael Thomas made history in 2019, setting an NFL record with 149 catches, along with 1,725 yards and 9 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Thomas has only been able to play a combined 10 games over the past three seasons due to various injuries. In the previous season, he participated in just three games, recording 16 catches for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns before suffering a toe dislocation.
This injury required surgery, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the season. Prior to his toe problems, Thomas struggled with multiple ankle injuries that affected his agility. Consequently, he primarily served as a red zone threat last season.
Thomas has taken part in OTAs and minicamp, albeit in a limited capacity. He assured reporters that he would be ready for training camp. Given Thomas's extensive injury history, he will likely be no higher than WR2 for the Saints.
During the 2022 NFL Draft, the Saints faced criticism for surrendering multiple assets to acquire Chris Olave. However, the rookie receiver has proven himself worthy of the hype. Last season, he amassed an impressive 72 catches for 1,042 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Although Olave missed mini camp practice due to Achilles inflammation, there is no reported history of Achilles issues for him. It is possible that the team is simply exercising caution.
He sat out two games last season due to a concussion and hamstring injury. FantasyPros currently projects Olave as the No. 13 overall fantasy WR, indicating his potential for an outstanding second season despite his recent minor injuries.
Thomas referred to Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and himself as the Saints' "Big 3". Shaheed went undrafted in 2022 but showed promise by amassing 488 yards in a weak WR group. The Saints are hoping for an improvement in their deep-threat capabilities with better QB play.
Shaheed missed Tuesday's mini-camp practice due to a groin injury, which he stated occurred during OTAs. However, the injury is deemed precautionary. It appears that the Saints' focus is on entering the season with a healthy roster, a departure from their experiences over the past three years.
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