Former Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas has an NFL roster spot. After participating in a three-day rookie minicamp with the New Orleans Saints this weekend on a tryout basis, the Yellow Jackets great was added to the team’s offseason roster on Sunday as an undrafted free agent, according to Thomas’ representation.
The tryout was Thomas’ second, after an unsuccessful attempt with the San Francisco 49ers at their rookie minicamp last weekend. However, Thomas evidently made a strong impression on Saints coaches and management. Thomas began the three-day minicamp on Friday as a slot cornerback and did well, according to a spokesman for his agency, ESQ. He was then moved over to wide receiver on the second day, Saturday. The minicamp concluded Sunday.
A second NFL tryout for Justin Thomas
The team has not determined where it wants to position him going forward, at either wide receiver or cornerback. It’s a testament to the superior speed, quickness and playmaking knack that Jackets fans have seen in the past three years from Thomas as Tech’s starting quarterback. Making the 90-man offseason roster is an accomplishment itself for an athlete who has not played wide receiver or cornerback at any level of organized football. Thomas was one of 55 players that the Saints brought in for the audition, joining the team’s draft picks and undrafted free agents.
The actual contract signing will likely take place in the next couple days. Thomas was initially passed over on draft weekend, presumably due to questions about his size (5-foot-9) and lack of experience at cornerback and wide receiver. He is now with a team that has a history of undrafted free agents making the 53-man regular-season roster. In 2013, one of them was former Tech cornerback Rod Sweeting.
The odds are still long for Thomas. But they’re much better than they were last week.
“He’s just got tremendous playmaking skills,” coach Paul Johnson said prior to the draft. “He’s a gifted athlete. I think he has a lot of position flexibility and he’d just be an asset to any team.”
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