Can we take a second to appreciate Michael Thomas’ catch percentage?

[glm]

Right now he’s had 79 targets thrown his way and he’s caught 70 of them for an 89% catch percentage.

I can’t remember the last time a #1 WR had a catch percentage like that.

The crazy thing is that for most of the season his catch percentage has been over 90% so this is really his season low right now.

For reference, the next highest catch percentages from #1 WRs are from Adam Thielen and Emmanuel Sanders at 76%.

Michael Thomas Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Simply mind blowing

 

[HailHydra]

2nd round pick

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

2nd round pick

I wanted him during the draft some people actually said he wasnt worth a 1st or second
LMFAO

 

[jah]

Yeah...the sad thing is he absolutely would have fit this scheme (maybe any scheme).

 

[Wheelman]

No.

 

[glm]

No.

 

[jmt57]

2nd round pick

Patriots had no draft pick prior to when Thomas was selected due to PSI-gate.






Wide receivers drafted in rounds 1-5 in 2016:

Corey Coleman (Cleveland); 1st round, 15th overall
Career Stats: 56 receptions, 5 TD
2018:
Aug 5: traded to Bills for 7th round pick
Sept 1: cut by Bills
Sept 11: signed by Patriots
Sept 17: released by Pats to make room for Josh Gordon
Sept 20: signed to Practice Squad by Patriots
Sept 29: released by Patriots
Oct 19: signed to Practice Squad by Giants
Oct 25: promoted to 53-man roster
2018 snap counts: zero

Will Fuller (Houston); 1st round, 21st overall
Career Stats: 31 games, 30 starts; 107 receptions, 14.6 ypc, 13 TD
On Injured Reserve and done for 2018 due to torn ACL

Josh Doctson (Washington); 1st round, 22nd overall
Career Stats: 25 games, 19 starts; 56 receptions, 758 yards, 13.5 ypc, 7 TD

Laquon Treadwell (Minnesota); 1st round, 23rd overall
Career Stats: 34 games, 12 starts; 48 receptions, 468 yards, 9.8 ypc, 1 TD

Sterling Shepard (Giants); 2nd round, 40th overall
Career Stats: 35 games, 34 starts; 164 receptions for 1,946 yards, 11.9 ypc, 12 TD

Michael Thomas (Saints); 2nd round, 47th overall
Career Stats: 39 games, 34 starts; 266 receptions, 3262 yards, 12.3 ypc, 19 TD

Tyler Boyd (Bengals); 2nd round, 55th overall
Career Stats: 34 games, 11 starts, 125 receptions, 1448 yards, 11.6 ypc, 8 TD

Braxton Miller (Texans); 3rd round, 85th overall
Career Stats: 21 games, 9 starts; 34 receptions, 261 yards, 7.7 ypc, 2 TD
Waived in final 2018 preseason cuts; now on Philadelphia practice squad

Leonte Carroo (Dolphins); 3rd round, 86th overall
Career Stats: 30 games, 2 starts; 10 receptions, 98 yards, 9.8 ypc, 1 TD
Waived in final 2018 preseason cuts; re-signed to Practice Squad
Promoted to active roster Oct 24; zero offensive snaps, 31 ST snaps

Chris Moore (Ravens); 4th round, 107th overall
37 games, 4 starts; 37 receptions, 422 yards, 11.4 ypc, 3 TD
2017 snap counts: 376 offense (43%), 176 ST (45%)

Malcolm Mitchell (Patriots); 4th round, 112th overall
32 receptions, 401 yards, 12.5 ypc, 4 TD
NFL career derailed due to knee injury

Ricardo Louis (Browns); 4th round, 114th overall
32 games, 12 starts; 45 receptions, 562 yards, 12.5 ypc, 0 TD
Will miss entire 2018 season due to neck injury

Pharoh Cooper (Rams); 4th round, 117th overall
25 receptions for 190 yards; 2017 Pro Bowler as a KR; now on IR (ankle)

Demarco Robinson (Chiefs); 4th round, 126th overall
28 receptions, 263 yards, 1 TD

Tajae Sharpe (Titans); 5th round, 140th overall
58 receptions, 744 yards, 3 TD

Jordan Payton (Browns); 5th round, 154th overall
1 reception, 3 yards, 0 TD
Suspended for final four 2016 games for PEDs
Waived 9/2/2017

Trevor Davis (Packers); 5th round, 163rd overall
8 receptions, 94 yards; 33 punt returns, 34 kickoff returns

Tyreek Hill (Chiefs); 5th round, 165th overall
184 receptions, 2550 yards, 13.9 ypc, 20 TD
53 carries, 387 yards, 7.3 ypc, 3 TD
76 punt returns, 971 yards, 4 TD
2-time Pro Bowl, 1-time All Pro

Rashard Higgins (Browns); 5th round, 172nd overall
52 receptions, 652 yards, 12.5 ypc, 3 TD



The draft is a crapshoot.
Expectations for getting these picks right tend to be way too high in comparison to reality by both fans and the media.

 

[DarrylS]

Patriots had no draft pick prior to when Thomas was selected due to PSI-gate.






Wide receivers drafted in rounds 1-5 in 2016:

Corey Coleman (Cleveland); 1st round, 15th overall
Career Stats: 56 receptions, 5 TD
2018:
Aug 5: traded to Bills for 7th round pick
Sept 1: cut by Bills
Sept 11: signed by Patriots
Sept 17: released by Pats to make room for Josh Gordon
Sept 20: signed to Practice Squad by Patriots
Sept 29: released by Patriots
Oct 19: signed to Practice Squad by Giants
Oct 25: promoted to 53-man roster
2018 snap counts: zero

Will Fuller (Houston); 1st round, 21st overall
Career Stats: 31 games, 30 starts; 107 receptions, 14.6 ypc, 13 TD
On Injured Reserve and done for 2018 due to torn ACL

Josh Doctson (Washington); 1st round, 22nd overall
Career Stats: 25 games, 19 starts; 56 receptions, 758 yards, 13.5 ypc, 7 TD

Laquon Treadwell (Minnesota); 1st round, 23rd overall
Career Stats: 34 games, 12 starts; 48 receptions, 468 yards, 9.8 ypc, 1 TD

Sterling Shepard (Giants); 2nd round, 40th overall
Career Stats: 35 games, 34 starts; 164 receptions for 1,946 yards, 11.9 ypc, 12 TD

Michael Thomas (Saints); 2nd round, 47th overall
Career Stats: 39 games, 34 starts; 266 receptions, 3262 yards, 12.3 ypc, 19 TD

Tyler Boyd (Bengals); 2nd round, 55th overall
Career Stats: 34 games, 11 starts, 125 receptions, 1448 yards, 11.6 ypc, 8 TD

Braxton Miller (Texans); 3rd round, 85th overall
Career Stats: 21 games, 9 starts; 34 receptions, 261 yards, 7.7 ypc, 2 TD
Waived in final 2018 preseason cuts; now on Philadelphia practice squad

Leonte Carroo (Dolphins); 3rd round, 86th overall
Career Stats: 30 games, 2 starts; 10 receptions, 98 yards, 9.8 ypc, 1 TD
Waived in final 2018 preseason cuts; re-signed to Practice Squad
Promoted to active roster Oct 24; zero offensive snaps, 31 ST snaps

Chris Moore (Ravens); 4th round, 107th overall
37 games, 4 starts; 37 receptions, 422 yards, 11.4 ypc, 3 TD
2017 snap counts: 376 offense (43%), 176 ST (45%)

Malcolm Mitchell (Patriots); 4th round, 112th overall
32 receptions, 401 yards, 12.5 ypc, 4 TD
NFL career derailed due to knee injury

Ricardo Louis (Browns); 4th round, 114th overall
32 games, 12 starts; 45 receptions, 562 yards, 12.5 ypc, 0 TD
Will miss entire 2018 season due to neck injury

Pharoh Cooper (Rams); 4th round, 117th overall
25 receptions for 190 yards; 2017 Pro Bowler as a KR; now on IR (ankle)

Demarco Robinson (Chiefs); 4th round, 126th overall
28 receptions, 263 yards, 1 TD

Tajae Sharpe (Titans); 5th round, 140th overall
58 receptions, 744 yards, 3 TD

Jordan Payton (Browns); 5th round, 154th overall
1 reception, 3 yards, 0 TD
Suspended for final four 2016 games for PEDs
Waived 9/2/2017

Trevor Davis (Packers); 5th round, 163rd overall
8 receptions, 94 yards; 33 punt returns, 34 kickoff returns

Tyreek Hill (Chiefs); 5th round, 165th overall
184 receptions, 2550 yards, 13.9 ypc, 20 TD
53 carries, 387 yards, 7.3 ypc, 3 TD
76 punt returns, 971 yards, 4 TD
2-time Pro Bowl, 1-time All Pro

Rashard Higgins (Browns); 5th round, 172nd overall
52 receptions, 652 yards, 12.5 ypc, 3 TD

The draft is a crapshoot.
Expectations for getting these picks right tend to be way too high in comparison to reality by both fans and the media.

Well done, this is the type of information that is needed on those predictable threads about how BB does not know how to draft or all those woulda, shoulda, coulda threads that happen after the draft or when some mid range draft pick "breaks out"... the draft is a crap shoot.

Always thought there should be an existing and ongoing longitudinal study that could track the success or failures of all teams in the draft.. instead of looking a specific instances that are determined to be a "failure".

 

[RobertWeathers]

I couldnt give a rats fart what his catch % is. It better be high especially in that system.

 

[glm]

I couldnt give a rats fart what his catch % is. It better be high especially in that system.

There’s a difference between a number 1 receiver having a high catch percentage in a system like the Saints and not catching less than 10 passes through half the season and having a catch rate of over 90% for the majority of the season.

It’s definitely something that can be appreciated

 

[primetime]

Testament both to Thomas and how well Brees is playing this season. Catch percentage is as much a reflection of a quarterback, and his catch percentage is still really high 10+ yards downfield.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Dislike since he’s a Saint lol

 

[The Scrizz]

It's incredible really. Just as big a testament to Brees who is obviously putting the ball where it needs to be. I mean just not having the ball broken up by DB's more often is ridiculous. And it's not like he's running slot receiver routes. Very impressive.

 

[RobertWeathers]

There’s a difference between a number 1 receiver having a high catch percentage in a system like the Saints and not catching less than 10 passes through half the season and having a catch rate of over 90% for the majority of the season.

It’s definitely something that can be appreciated

No. Not in that offense and not in today's NFL. Sorry.

 

[glm]

No. Not in that offense and not in today's NFL. Sorry.

Today’s NFL? What other number 1 receiver is doing it in today’s NFL? Or even coming close?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Today’s NFL? What other number 1 receiver is doing it in today’s NFL? Or even coming close?

Thalen and Hopkins are over 70% and are in different offenses.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

he just dropped his phone today so it should be 88% now

 

[Kontradiction]

You’d have a hard time seeing that percentage in a game of catch between two guys let alone on a professional football field going against a defense.

 

[archstanton543]

Nope. We can't take it.

 

[glm]

Thalen and Hopkins are over 70% and are in different offenses.

Ok so no one’s close. Got it.

And what’s so special about the Saints offense which makes this possible? He has Drew Brees? No one else on that offense is catching passes at the same rate as Thomas.

What about offenses with quarterbacks that are doing just as good this year, like the Chiefs and the Rams? None of their playmakers are catching the ball like Thomas is.

You’re basically using the “Tom Brady is a System QB” argument and applying it to Thomas.

BTW he caught 8/8 passes today so now he’s 78/87 and back up to 90%.