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Undrafted rookie Chase Thomas is looking to make the New Orleans Saints’ 53-man roster, but has been buried in the depth chart. However, all of that changed when outside linebacker Martez Wilson unfortunately suffered an elbow injury during training camp. The prognosis for Wilson’s recovery is 2-4 weeks, and during that time Thomas will have the opportunity to prove himself.
Since Wilson’s injury, the former Stanford linebacker has been working with the first and second teams, and is hoping to make a strong impression on the Saints’ coaching staff. If Thomas performs well in training camp and into the preseason, he could secure a roster spot.
Thomas could actually help the Saints a lot as they transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive alignment. During his days at Stanford, Thomas played outside linebacker, so he is very familiar with the system. Furthermore, the 6-foot-3, 241-pound Thomas is comfortable playing the strong or weak side linebacker positions. Thomas’ versatility would be a great asset for the Saints, and even if he does not start, he could provide some depth at either outside linebacker position.
However, if Thomas did make the final roster and did get some playing time, you can be sure that he would produce. In 52 games at Stanford, Thomas amassed 229 tackles and 27.5 sacks, so if he can bring that kind of production to the Saints, he would be a valuable player. Only time will tell if Thomas ultimately makes the final roster or not. However, now is Thomas’ chance to prove that he can help the Saints and he must take advantage of that opportunity.
Alejandro Aviles is the Featured Writer for the New Orleans Saints at Rant Sports @aaviles312
