NFC injury could provide Dolphins chance to clear up WR logjam
The Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver room is one of the most crowded places on the roster. Miami boasts more than a dozen pass catchers entering training camp and will be looking for the clarity needed in the coming weeks to cut that number in half — at least. That will be easier said than done as the team looks to find not just the best talent but the best economic options for a team that is looking to continue the balance between being a contender now and a team with the long-term flexibility to pivot their roster and plan of attack at any moment.
But there’s a new opportunity on the other side of the league that could provide Miami with the chance to offload talent and get something back in return.
The news has broke that New Orleans Saints standout receiver Michael Thomas is set to miss the beginning of the season thanks to ankle surgery. New Orleans, who appears to be trying to transition away from Drew Brees and maintain their winning form, will sorely miss Thomas to open the year. And his absence may extend into the middle of the year, too.
Sources: #Saints star WR Michael Thomas is expected to miss the start of the 2021 season after undergoing surgery to repair the ligaments in his ankle in June. Based on the timing of the surgery – and recommended 4 months of recovery – Thomas could be on the sideline for weeks.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 23, 2021
Miami has done business with the Saints in the past. They sent Kiko Alonso packing to New Orleans recent and conducted a draft day trade in 2019 that moved Miami back into the fringes of the 2nd-round before the team rolled the dice on quarterback Josh Rosen.
Might New Orleans have any interest in the Dolphins’ pass catching group? It is safe to say Jaylen Waddle and Will Fuller, the two cornerstone additions to the group this offseason, are off limits. But anyone else in the Dolphins’ room, including veteran DeVante Parker, could make sense for the right price. Parker specifically struggled with chemistry at times with Tagovailoa and does not play a brand of football that figures to align with Tagovailoa long-term based on the tendencies Miami’s young quarterback showed in 2020.
This is a story to keep an eye on, especially if the news doesn’t rapidly improve for Thomas and the Saints in the coming weeks.
