Is help at wide receiver coming for Michael Thomas?
The former national champion at Ohio State and current superstar for the New Orleans Saints hopes so. After being selected in the second-round (No. 47 pick) of the 2016 NFL Draft, all Thomas has done is catch passes and score touchdowns.
He’s totaled 1,000-plus yards receiving during his four years in the National Football League, and he’s coming off a record-setting season of 149 catches in 2019. Thomas totaled a league-high 1,725 yards with nine scores last year, en route to earning his third Pro Bowl invitation, second first team All-Pro honor and first NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Thomas is the primary weapon for Drew Brees at quarterback.
He would love to have help in New Orleans (La.) and he thinks Henry Ruggs III of Alabama can be that player. According to Willie McGinest and James Jones – two former NFL players – both praised Ruggs’ speed, hands and route-running abilities on NFL Network.
Jones went as far as to say if the Saints draft Ruggs, he and Thomas would be a dangerous tandem in the NFC South.
Thomas does not want anyone taking the Montgomery (Ala.) native before the No. 24 overall pick, as he sees Ruggs as the ‘steal of the draft.’ The 5-foot-11, 188-pounder collected 98 passes in his career at Alabama – including 24 resulting in scores.
? kids special might be the steal of the draft @89JonesNTAF @__RUGGS don’t give it away ? https://t.co/GlgFcYNuvf
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) March 5, 2020
His 40-time of 4.27 seconds was the fastest for receivers in this class and tied for sixth fastest in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine.
Ruggs’ vertical jump of 42” was freakish and his broad jump of 10’11” shows that his lower body power is just as potent as his great speed.
NFL Draft analysts are comparing him to Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs.
RELATED: Henry Ruggs posts memorable Combine performance; Jerry Jeudy holds serve as a top-three WR
If Ruggs is on the board by the 24th pick, the Saints will have something special.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
