The combination of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Michael Thomas has quickly risen up the ranks to look down on the rest of the NFL. In a recent list from Barry Werner of Touchdown Wire, the Brees-Thomas connection was very nearly the best passer-receiver combo in the league, topped only by the Kansas City Chiefs duo of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
Here’s what Werner wrote about the Saints’ two superstars:
Drew Brees and Michael Thomas are of one mind. That’s the only explanation for how a tandem can connect on 120 of 140 targets. Remember. Brees did not play in the regular-season finale, a loss to the Panthers.
Including the playoffs, Thomas has reeled in 346 of his 455 targets from Brees through his first three years in the NFL — a catch rate of 76-percent. Those catches gained 4,137 receiving yards and scored 26 touchdowns, while resulting in just nine interceptions. 225 of those receptions gained a first down. In other words, Thomas has averaged 11.95 receiving yards per catch and either converted a new first down or scored a touchdown on 72.5-percent of his receptions.
Thomas just makes plays when Brees is throwing the ball his way. Their team-up has become an impressive connection and easily explains why the Saints are so determined to work out an agreement on a long-term contract with Thomas ahead of their 2019 training camp.
