New Orleans Saints: Why Michael Thomas is the team’s most irreplaceable player

After another productive game by Michael Thomas, it is time for us to realize how much he means to the New Orleans Saints.

Throughout his tenure as the head coach of the Saints, Sean Payton has produced elite offenses, and he has done so by virtue of having elite playmakers. Between Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, Jimmy Graham, Reggie Bush and now Michael Thomas, the team has always been equipped with a lot of offensive firepower.

Yet, none of those players compare to Michael Thomas. The 27-year-old has been the glue of the offense ever since he was drafted by the team in 2016, and at this point, there is no reason to believe that he isn’t New Orleans’ most irreplaceable player.

Yes, New Orleans has other talented players, such as Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara. However, based on Thomas’ production, and the effect of the offense when he isn’t present, he is the perfect building block for a franchise.

To further illustrate this, let us delve into Thomas’ value further. We’ll start by analyzing him as a player, before shifting to a greater “big picture” view on what he means to the Saints this year, as well as in the future.