DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 31: Wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas #13 of the Kansas City Chiefs grimaces as he is carted off the field after sustaining an injury in the first quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 31, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Where will De’Anthony Thomas end up next season? If he can prove he’s healthy and done with any offseason drama, DAT could find a home in Chicago.

This has to be a frustrating position for De’Anthony Thomas.

At the age of 26, Thomas should still be locked onto an NFL roster for a few more seasons, especially considering his resume and versatility. Dave Toub has praised his special teams acumen and called him, pound for pound, the toughest player on the Chiefs. Given his ability to help as a returner, a wideout, and out of the backfield, DAT should be a nice depth piece for any team.

Unfortunately for Thomas, his career has turned upside-down in the last 20 months or so, some of which is his own fault. At the very tail end of the 2017 season, Thomas missed the playoffs due to a fractured tibia. He would spend the offseason rehabbing only to return and break the same leg after five games. Then, earlier this offseason, Thomas was arrested for suspicion of marijuana possession in Allen County, Kansas.

Will DAT receive a suspension from the NFL? Is he healthy after breaking the same leg twice? After five seasons in the league, it’s clear now that Thomas will never be the sort of offensive weapon a team can lean upon as a primary outlet. If so, a creative mind like Andy Reid who gets the most out of his players wouldn’t have left him unused for so many years.

What is clear, however, is Thomas should still have plenty in the tank, assuming he can regain his speed after the surgeries. That’s a big hurdle to clear, but if he does, any team would love to have his special teams experience. The difference, oftentimes in the NFL, is in the details and Thomas is exactly the sort of player who tips that scale in his team’s direction.

A solid guess would be that Thomas sits and waits until after the season begins to deal with any suspension before a team kicks the tires for a private workout. It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Chiefs take another look after the season begins if some of the current young players don’t step up given the opportunity.

It’s also possible the Chicago Bears come calling with interest given that his college coach, Mark Helfrich, is the offensive coordinator and Matt Nagy, his former OC with the Chiefs, is now the head coach. That’s a rare moment when a head coach and OC would be so intimately familiar with a player. It likely depends on how crowded the roster feels for Chicago. Other possibilities include the rest of the AFC West who have seen Thomas up close. A team like the Broncos make sense for a depth receiver and proven S/T performer.

Thomas had only 35 total yards from scrimmage and 141 return yards in 5 games last season before heading to injured reserve.