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Saints Legend Could Save Chiefs, Chargers Seasons

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By David Latham | Last updated Dec 9, 2024 4:00 PM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs need more help at wide receiver, and free agent Michael Thomas is probably the best option available. A second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Thomas was one of the league’s top receivers in the back half of the 2010s. After a 1,100-yard rookie season, Thomas exploded with three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, exceeding 1,200 receiving yards each year while leading the NFL in receptions two times and yardage once. At just 26 years old, Thomas looked like one of the league’s brightest stars.

Unfortunately, the injury bug had other ideas. Battling a series of ailments, Thomas effectively missed the entirety of the 2020-2022 campaigns but returned to the field in 2023. While he was a shell of his former self, the Ohio State product still recorded 39 receptions for 448 yards and one touchdown in 10 games. He’s still an adequate depth option and could be a late-season savior for receiver-needy teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers.

Chiefs, Chargers Could Target Free Agent Michael Thomas

The Kansas City Chiefs cannot keep winning games like this. Following their dramatic last-season victory over the Chargers, the team boasts an impressive 12-1 record and the top seed in the AFC playoff picture. However, anyone who has watched this team knows they’re not nearly as good as their record suggests. Now an unprecedented 10-0 in one-score games, Kansas City owes their impressive record to dumb luck as much as talent. This team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but they must add some more pieces to increase their odds of winning their third title in as many seasons.

The type of season the #Chiefs have had: pic.twitter.com/uJsC06pLnJ https://t.co/v76FIxEM8K

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 9, 2024

With Rashee Rice out for the season, Marquise Brown on the mend, and Travis Kelce slowing down, Kansas City had to build their passing game through the untested Xavier Worthy, the recently acquired DeAndre Hopkins, and old friend Juju Smith-Schuster. While Hopkins still has something left in his tank, Worthy and Smith-Schuster shouldn’t be anything more than situational players at this stage in their careers. Perhaps Brown’s return can add some life to this passing attack, but adding a safe veteran like Thomas who can quickly get open and move the chains should add some much-needed stability to the offense.

More Weapons For Justin Herbert

Sunday night’s showing demonstrated what the Los Angeles Chargers offense looks like without second-round rookie Ladd McConkey. Sidelined with an injury, the Chargers struggled to move the ball throughout the contest without a receiver capable of consistently getting open and making plays after the catch. While Justin Herbert was banged up, McConkey’s injury shows the narrow margin of error for this passing attack. Head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to win with the running game, but that’s not happening with Gus Edwards starting behind an unreliable interior offensive line.

The Chargers will make the playoffs, but they’ll need more from their offense to play deep into January. Rather than trying to build around the ground game, Los Angeles should fortify their passing attack and go as far as Herbert can carry them. McConkey should be back for next week, but adding a free agent like Michael Thomas will only increase the offensive ceiling. He’s not a Pro Bowl-caliber player anymore, but he’s probably better than DJ Chark.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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