NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

New Orleans Saints Training Camp: Willie Snead vs. Michael Thomas

By James Cobern

Dec 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Willie Snead (83) lines up during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The New Orleans Saints won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Willie Snead (83) lines up during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The New Orleans Saints won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

New Orleans Saints training camp in 2016 will have many battles to follow, but the best to follow on offense is hands down Willie Snead vs. Michael Thomas.

Jun 2, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) during organized team activities at the New Orleans Saints Indoor Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 2, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) during organized team activities at the New Orleans Saints Indoor Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Arguably the most entertaining training camp battle this summer will be between this year’s second-round wide receiver Michael Thomas, and 2015’s breakout star Willie Snead. It may not matter who wins this battle since wide receivers under Sean Payton have large variances of usage week to week.

Related Story: Saints Michael Thomas Sleeper Offensive Rookie of the Year

However, it’s clear the Saints want their second-rounder to show that he belongs. Along with Willie Snead working to prove 2015 was the first of many productive seasons to come.

So far Michael Thomas has continually been impressive throughout the offseason mini camps.

While Snead hasn’t gotten much press or praise from the Saints organization recently. He has received plenty of praise from NFL analysts. Including NFL.com Analyst Matt Harmon’s Reception Perception research that shows he scores very highly as an route runner.

Ultimately I see Thomas winning the starting spot for two main reasons. The first is purely a matter of draft status.

Thomas is the second-round draft pick while Snead was an undrafted free agent who bounced around a few teams before making the Saints roster. Admittedly this is an eye roll inducing argument to make, but its a reality in the NFL that draft status does have a heavy hand in the decisions a team makes.

However, the more compelling argument is of size. Thomas at 6’2″, 212 pounds is a bigger target than the 5’11”, 194-pound Snead.

And Thomas provides the perfect contrast to Brandin Cooks at 5’10” and 185 pounds. I view Snead as someone who will give similar contributions to the offense as Lance Moore did during his heyday.

More nfl spin zone: Saints Training Camp: Garrett Grayson vs. Luke McCown

With Thomas as the Marques Colston-like possession receiver. This training camp battle will demonstrate whether Thomas and Snead can contribute the way Colston and Moore were capable of.

And if it proves to be a very competitive battle, then the future of the Saints’ wide receiver core is looking very bright.

Home/New Orleans Saints