The big storyline of the Saints 2019 training camp has turned into “Michael Thomas watch” as the receiver holds out for a new deal entering the final year of his rookie contract that will pay him just above $1 million for this season. While not having your top target the first practice of camp isn’t good, there is a silver lining.
It gave some of the other wide outs on the team more opportunities, like Keith Kirkwood who is entering his 2nd year. The 6ft3, target got to run with the first-team offense with Ted Ginn in Can’t Guard Mike’s absence. Kirkwood was an undrafted pickup last season and finished with 13 catches for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns in 13 regular season games. He added two grabs with a touchdown in the postseason.
A huge positive was seeing Cameron Meredith on the field. The Saints will be cautious with him as he battles back from a serious ACL injury back in 2017 and was a question mark for camp after he sat out organized team activities and minicamp. There was one pass Meredith caught where he didn’t look like a guy who is hurt. After making a catch on a slant route, he took off running and showed smooth speed. Coach Sean Payton noted that this is a big camp for t
Taysom Hill to Rishard Matthews. Saints signed the veteran after he impressed in offseason workouts pic.twitter.com/Ya8PeE1X4u
— Amos Morale III (@Amos_MoraleIII)
July 26, 2019 Veteran Rishard Mathews and undrafted rookie Emmanuel Butler were early standouts. Matthews was a 7th round pick back in 2012 and played for the Jets and Titans a year ago. He showed potential with several catches during minicamp and carried it over to day 1 of camp showing off some crisp route running. Butler made the catch of the day leaping into the air in traffic, bringing down a ball thrown from Taysom Hill. His name has been picking up a lot of buzz around the Saints building which Coach Payton only added to saying, “he’s someone we’ve noticed.”
I said after Brandon Coleman I’d never get excited ab another UDFA WR but Emmanuel Butler changing that. pic.twitter.com/PKw9T9fVax
— ⚜️Blade Pinderhughes⚜️ (@RB_killnem)
May 3, 2019
