With Saints Cap Issues, Patriots Cap Room Could The Two Swap For Michael Thomas?

The New Orleans Saints have salary cap issues, but they also have a top-flight wide receiver on their roster. The New England Patriots, on the other hand, have one of the best salary cap situations in the NFL, but they don't have any elite offensive weapons.

At this point, you should see where I'm going with this. It would make sense for the two parties to make a deal. It's a point Albert Breer made on Arbella Early Edition over the weekend.

"The Saints have huge cap problems. They figure to be $60 or $70 million over the cap," Breer said, via NBC Sports Boston. "So how about trading for Michael Thomas? If you want to solve your receiver issue once and for all, like, you may have to give up a second or a third-round pick to get him, but a lot of the bonus money has already been paid out, so you'd be able to get him at a discounted rate for a No. 1 receiver."

The question will be whether the Saints would be willing to part ways with the 28-year-old receiver. In his first four seasons, he missed only one regular season game. He also produced 470 receptions for 5,512 yards and 32 touchdowns during that time.

Injuries held him to only seven games in 2020, but there's no reason to believe that he won't be able to return to that caliber of production -- as long as he has a reliable quarterback.

Will that quarterback come in New Orleans or New England? Who knows. Both teams are searching for quality replacements for all-time greats at the position. But giving whoever is starting a No. 1 receiving option such as Thomas would certainly help.

The Saints have that. The Patriots probably want it, but can they make it happen? If they can, Thomas would likely fit in well with New England -- schematically and from a personality standpoint.

"I think culturally, he fits in," Breer continued. "He's tough, he's competitive, he's a little bit of a weird personality. But I certainly think if you wanted to solve your issue of not having a No. 1 receiver once and for all, I think Michael Thomas, stylistically as a receiver, is exactly what the Patriots would be looking for."

If he's moved, it will be out of necessity. Otherwise, he'll stay right there in New Orleans.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.