The Buffalo Bills didn’t make the type of free-agent splash that was expected at wide receiver after they traded Stefon Diggs and allowed Gabe Davis to hit the open market. Could that change in the final days before training camp with a late signing of Michael Thomas?
BetOnline thinks it’s possible. As of Friday, the outlet’s updated odds for which team will sign Thomas show the Bills as a top contender:
- Dallas Cowboys (+300)
- Buffalo Bills (+500)
- Baltimore Ravens (+600)
- Denver Broncos (+800)
Time is running out if Buffalo wants to add the 2019 NFL Offensive Player of the Year to its crowded roster before camp opens July 24, though.
Bills Listed Among Favorites For Michael Thomas
Is Ohio State Product A Realistic Target?
Yes, but probably not right now.
It’s hard to imagine the Bills making any marquee signings before the start of camp. They appear committed to seeing whether the trio of Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and rookie Keon Coleman can combine to fill the 241-target void left by Diggs and Davis.
Buffalo’s outlook could change if that group, along with No. 4 wideout candidates Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Chase Claypool, fall flat in the early stages of camp and the preseason.
The Bills can’t afford to throw away a year of Josh Allen’s prime. In turn, the front office must be prepared to adjust quickly if the reshaped receiver room is underwhelming. The early returns from organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps were positive, but things can change once the preseason games yield true results.
If general manager Brandon Beane does decide to change course, that’s when Thomas enters the conversation.
What Would Thomas Bring To Buffalo?
Thomas built an argument as the best receiver in the NFL during his early years with the New Orleans Saints. His accolades include two First Team All-Pro selections and setting the league record for most catches in a season with 149 in 2019.
Injuries have derailed the 31-year-old Los Angeles native’s career, though. He’s appeared in just 20 games over the past four seasons combined. That includes missing the entire 2021 campaign while recovering from an ankle injury.
He’s coming off a 2023 season where he recorded a modest 39 catches for 448 yards and one touchdown in 10 appearances. He received a 67.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. ESPN Analytics rated him at 47 overall.
Thomas isn’t a bona fide No. 1 receiver anymore. He’s more of a fringe No. 2 wideout at this stage, but that’s about all you can expect on the free-agent market at this stage of the summer.
In other words, he wouldn’t be a savior for the Bills. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t help in some capacity, though.
Will He Join The Bills?
It’s easy to say no, but don’t rule it out completely. Perhaps something along the lines of a 10 percent chance Thomas lands in Buffalo.
Everything depends on how the passing game looks in the early weeks of camp. All bets are off if it’s a major struggle to move the ball through the air. The Bills can’t enter the regular season without some level of certainty the aerial attack has enough weapons.
Signing Thomas is mostly a last-resort option, but betting on a resurgence from a former superstar isn’t the worst gamble to take, especially if it feels like the entire season is on the line.
Main Photo: Robert Scheer/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK
