It's been five years since Michael Thomas put together one of the most prolific seasons of receiving production in history. In 2019, he had a record 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns.

Since then, he's caught 95 passes for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns across four seasons. Most of the nosedive in production can be chalked up to injuries. He missed the entire 2021 season with an ankle issue, only played in three games of the 2022 season before playing in 10 games of the 2023 campaign.

The injury risk is high for anyone who wants to take a shot on Thomas, but there's still some reward to be found. He was 13th in contested catch rate last season, catching 55.6 percent of his 18 qualifying targets, per Player Profiler.

That's a small glimmer of hope that the 31-year-old still has something left if he can manage to remain healthy and is willing to take on a smaller role.

There are a lot of ways that signing Thomas could end poorly. Injuries and a career of being a target magnet could make adjusting to a second phase with a new team difficult, but if he's bought in he is one of the highest upside free agents available.

A reunion with Sean Payton in Denver makes sense. The Broncos don't have much proven production outside of Courtland Sutton in their receiver room. And the Pittsburgh Steelers should still be on the hunt for receiver help with George Pickens.

If Thomas wants to rejuvenate his career, it's hard to beat joining a Sean McVay-coached team. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp figure to take a large percentage of the targets, but the Rams coach would find a way to maximize what the three-time Pro Bowler can still do.

Best Landing Spots: Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams