Not only is Thomas a special player who obliterated the NFL record with 321 catches in his first three seasons, but New Orleans' cupboard would be frighteningly bare without him.
Last year, Thomas set franchise records with 125 catches and 1,405 receiving yards while earning first-team All-Pro honors. No other Saints receiver or tight end had more than 35 catches.
And the physical, 6-foot-3, 212-pounder is especially valuable for Brees, 40, at this stage of his career, since Thomas works so well in traffic on shorter and intermediate routes. Despite regularly being double-teamed, he caught a stunning 84.5 percent of his targets last season -- the most of any NFL receiver since at least 2001, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
