New Orleans Saints: Not trading for a wide receiver is a huge mistake

The New Orleans Saints decided against making any big moves at the NFL Trade Deadline when the team really needed to add a wide receiver to the offense.

The New Orleans Saints have passed every test thus far and have overcome more than any other team has in the league this season. The Saints did not let the loss of their Hall of Fame quarterback derail the season as Teddy Bridgewater went 5-0 and now the Saints are 7-1.

Although the San Francisco 49ers are undefeated and the Green Bay Packers have the same record as the Saints, the Saints do feel like the consensus favorite in the NFC. They have beaten better teams and have done so with a backup quarterback. That is more impressive than the wins that the 49ers and Packers have.

You would think that losing Drew Brees was the worst possible injury that could happen to the Saints but Bridgewater has proven that it is not as bad as it could be. Instead, the biggest injury that could derail the Saints’ Super Bowl hopes would be a Michael Thomas injury.

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That is because the New Orleans Saints decided to be inactive at the trade deadline and did not trade for a wide receiver.

This is a huge mistake for the Saints. Yes, Thomas is one of the best receivers in the NFL and is quite literally having the best season in terms of both receptions and receiving yards. Heck, he has been so good that he is a legitimate dark horse for the MVP award.

However, after Thomas, the Saints’ wide receiver corps is not that special. Ted Ginn Jr. is the team’s second-best receiver and has 195 receiving yards since his 101-yard game in Week 1. Tre-Quan Smith is the team’s third option and has only played two full games.

Yes, the team has weapons in Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Jared Cook and even Taysom Hill, all of which help soften the load of not having a great receiving corps.

But if Thomas goes down the Saints will be screwed. I get that it is such a trivial thing to say as there is just as good of a chance that Thomas stays completely healthy, but it is a massive concern with this team.

Plus, when the Saints come up against the best of the best in the playoffs this year they are going to come up against better head coaches that will gameplan to take Thomas out of the game as much as possible. That could absolutely have a tangible effect on the offense.

Realistically, the New Orleans Saints will most likely be fine with a stout defense and a running game that they can lean on. However, it would not have hurt to take those extra precautions and add a second valuable receiving to the roster.