New Orleans added more firepower for Drew Brees.
The Saints tapped Ohio State wide receiver Michael Thomas No. 47 overall on Friday night.
Thomas possesses size and speed combo with upside that coaches seek in early round receivers. The nephew of Keyshawn Johnson, Thomas stands 6-foot-3 with good ball skills and huge catching radius.
The issues with Thomas in college were drops and consistency.
"He's a build to speed guy," one scout told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He's just so damn inconsistent. He could be the best blocker. He can crush people. He just doesn't do it all the time. He's got great catching range, all this and that. He also drops balls."
With his size, Thomas can win in the red zone and should be a go-to target for Brees in the goal-line area. After losing Jimmy Graham last year, Marques Colston and Benjamin Watson this offseason, a red-zone pass-cather was an area of need for the Saints.
Fans will immediately compare Thomas' career to Colston, after the best pass-catcher in team history was jettisoned this offseason.
Teaming with speedster Brandin Cooks and Wille Snead, Thomas has the chance to make an immediate impact in the explosive Saints offense. As Brees ages, New Orleans has done well to replenish his stock of young wideouts the last two years.
The team later traded up and selected safety Vonn Bell with pick No. 61.
