Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas tackles former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

The New Orleans Saints had a dismal season; they finished 9-8 and were not in the playoffs. Although many felt that Derek Carr, the new quarterback, didn’t play well, he did have good numbers—25 touchdowns to just eight interceptions—after joining from the Los Vegas Raiders.

That also applies to one of his associates. Michael Thomas, a wide receiver, is holding quarterback Carr accountable for his inability to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2019.

“Well if I didn’t get set up by a bad ball I probably would’ve had a light little 1k yards this year but could of should of I know, I get it lol,” Thomas wrote in a now-deleted January 28 X post. “On top of that they wasn’t even trying to get me the ball but it’s no denying my style of play it don’t age playa you will see.”

After suffering a knee injury in the Week 11 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, Thomas was sidelined for the remainder of the season. It seems that he believes Carr should bear the blame for his injuries. Although Thomas removed the posts, it’s possible that Carr still has access to them. The Saints may want to keep an eye on this issue.

Is Michael Thomas Worth Removing?

Despite agreeing to a five-year contract in 2019, Michael Thomas hasn’t played the same since suffering an ankle injury in the 2020 campaign. With just one year remaining on his deal, the Saints may decide it’s time to let him go.

That said, he would have an $18.1 million dead cap hit if he’s released. That’s much bigger than the $10.2 million cap hit he’ll have if he stays on the roster. This is a tough position for New Orleans. Thomas clearly isn’t happy with the offense and is taking shots at his quarterback on X.

Additionally, his play on the field no longer makes up for the headaches he generates. He’s thirty years old, and a team is unlikely to trade for him given his history of injuries. Though there’s a chance Thomas may still be with the team come next season, the Saints might take that money and move on.

Will the New Orleans Saints and Derek Carr make the playoffs in 2024?

Derek Carr played for the Raiders for nine years, yet he only made two trips to the postseason. It was intended that his trade to the Saints would facilitate a playoff run. For just the third time in his career, he did have a winning record, but it wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs.

Carr was given a hefty contract by the Saints in the hopes that he would be the missing component needed for a strong team to make the playoffs. In Year 1, it wasn’t the case, but by 2024, it should be becoming hot for everyone.

The NFL’s worst division is the NFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their offensive coordinator and Baker Mayfield isn’t under contract, the Carolina Panthers had the poorest record in the NFL this season, and the Atlanta Falcons are changing coaches. The odds are in favor of the Saints winning the division the next season, and if they don’t, head coach Dennis Allen may lose his position, which would cast doubt on Carr’s future.