TENO#85ACT

David Thomas

Solid Contributor🏆 Clutch · +7% playoffs

Height6'3"

Weight248 lb

BornJul 5, 1983

Age43

CollegeTexas See College Stats

Rookie yr2006

Draft2006 · Rd 3, Pick 86 · NE

Archetype Intelligence

Solid ContributorExplore archetypes →

A tight end with a developmental — a rotational or backup contributor who filled their role reliably.

Career Value · VORP

VORP 16 · #3292 · Role Player

Worth 16 points of value above a freely-available replacement tight end — top 72% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 2 of 6 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +8 on average.See board →

Seasons above replacement

2 cleared

4 replaced

Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit

Replacement

the KC-H bar

→

Seasons over

cleared the bar

Avg surplus

peak +12

2 seasons × ~8 surplus ≈ VORP 16

Combined Season Grid

The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.

4 grids split in one view

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Receiving									Rushing								Defense													Advanced (EPA)
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb	Tkl	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits	Sk	Dis	Int	PD	FF	FR	TD	Sfty	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Pass AirYd	Rec AirYd
2006	—	NE	5	—	11	11	159	1	100.0%	14.5	14.5	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2006	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12.9	0	64
2007	—	NE	1	—	1	1	9	0	100.0%	9.0	9.0	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.5	0	6
2008	—	NE	6	—	9	9	93	0	100.0%	10.3	10.3	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8.0	0	49
2009	—	NO	12	—	49	35	356	1	71.4%	10.2	7.3	—	18	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009	—	LA	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2009	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	13.0	0	277
2010	—	NO	12	—	46	30	219	2	65.2%	7.3	4.8	—	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010	—	LA	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2010	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1.4	0	202
2011	—	NO	5	—	9	5	16	0	55.6%	3.2	1.8	—	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2011	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-3.2	0	32
2012	—	NO	7	—	17	11	86	4	64.7%	7.8	5.1	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2012	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.5	0	66
Career		—	51	—	142	102	938	8	71.8%	9.2	6.6	—	46	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	3	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	33.1	0	696

Career EPA33.1·33 receiving·4.7/season

Rushing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb	VAL
No regular-season rushing rows are available in this profile artifact.

Receiving

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D
2006	23	NE	5	—	11	11	159	1	100.0%	14.5	14.5	—	5
2007	24	NE	1	—	1	1	9	0	100.0%	9.0	9.0	—	1
2008	25	NE	6	—	9	9	93	0	100.0%	10.3	10.3	—	5
2009	26	NO	12	—	49	35	356	1	71.4%	10.2	7.3	—	18
2010	27	NO	12	—	46	30	219	2	65.2%	7.3	4.8	—	11
2011	28	NO	5	—	9	5	16	0	55.6%	3.2	1.8	—	0
2012	29	NO	7	—	17	11	86	4	64.7%	7.8	5.1	—	6
Career			48		142	102	938	8	71.8%	9.2	6.6	—	46

Advanced (EPA)

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Rec AirYd
2006	23	—	—	—	—	—	12.9	64
2007	24	—	—	—	—	—	0.5	6
2008	25	—	—	—	—	—	8.0	49
2009	26	—	—	—	—	—	13.0	277
2010	27	—	—	—	—	—	1.4	202
2011	28	—	—	—	—	—	-3.2	32
2012	29	—	—	—	—	—	0.5	66
Career					—	—	—	696

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 44 · Solid

A solid career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 44 of 100, era-normalized against rec yds/g peers across 6 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 44.4 × longevity 1 = KV-H 44· confidence 82%

What builds the career mark of 42

On-field 31.7

Availability 10.3

On-field production Staying available

Season-by-season quality (era-relative rec yds/g)

2006bestavg 382012

All-Time Standing

how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position

Depth

of 100

Reached 7% of the all-time Receptions leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.

7% of the all-time Receptions leader7

0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0

4.73 EPA/season over 7 seasons52

A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 90%.

Career Aging Trajectory

vs. position group average · KV-H basis

Amber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average tight ends aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).

Combine · 2006

Percentiles compare each raw measurement against position peers, the full combine pool, and the same draft class where enough samples exist.

TE · 2006 class

4.67s

40-Yard

Above avg · 68th pct

Pos 68thAll 48thClass Pos 58thClass All 49th

37.5"

Vertical

Strong · 89th pct

Pos 89thAll 84thClass Pos 87thClass All 73th

113"

Broad Jump

Below avg · 29th pct

Pos 29thAll 35thClass Pos 41thClass All 40th

19 reps

Bench

Below avg · 37th pct

Pos 37thAll 38thClass Pos 16thClass All 34th

7.05s

3-Cone

Above avg · 65th pct

Pos 65thAll 64thClass Pos 54thClass All 60th

4.34s

Shuttle

Below avg · 49th pct

Pos 49thAll 49thClass Pos 36thClass All 42th

Playoff vs Regular Season

🏆 Playoff Performer

Yards / Reception: 9.2 regular season → 9.9 playoffs (2 playoff seasons)

+7%

vs reg season

Postseason Career

4 playoff games

Rushing

Att1

Receiving

Tgt12Rec8Yds79Ctch%66.7%Y/R9.9Y/Tgt6.61D5

Advanced (EPA)

Rush EPA-3.9Rec EPA2.2Rec AirYd52

College Stats

TexasCollege listed; stat table pending import

College stats are not imported for this profile yet.

StatVault has the verified college attribution (Texas), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.

Reference Graph

Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.

2006 Draft Class· this player went #86

#77Jon AlstonLB #78Travis WilsonWR #79Jerious NorwoodRB #80Clint IngramLB #81Charlie WhitehurstQB #82Derek HaganWR #83Anthony SmithDB #85Brodie CroyleQB #87David PittmanDB #88James AndersonOLB #89Rashad ButlerOT #90Maurice StovallWR #91Frostee RuckerDE #92Jason HatcherDE #93Dominique ByrdTE #94Freddy KeiahoLB

Franchise Succession

the room, before and after

David inherited the New Orleans Saints TE room from Jeremy Shockey (2008–2010), and handed it to Jimmy Graham (2010–2023).

Hoby Brenner 1981–1993John Tice 1983–1991Derek Brown 1993–1996Wesley Walls 1994–1995Cameron Cleeland 1998–2001Boo Williams

Similar Players

Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).

Movementderived from season history

2012final season
Last recorded season with NO
2009team change
Joined NO (from NE)
2006draft
Drafted by NE — Round 3, Pick 86

Athletic & Unique Profile

verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts

6'3" / 248 lb

Frame

252 lb at 4.67s

Size-speed

37.5" vert / 113" broad

Explosion

19 reps

Bench power

Injury History

6 career games missed (Out)

From nflverse weekly injury reports · coverage begins 2009.

Season	Team	Games Out	Designations
2012	NO	0	W13Questionable· Knee
2011	NO	4	W4Out· ConcussionW5Out· ConcussionW6Out· ConcussionW7Out· ConcussionW8Questionable· Concussion
2010	NO	2	W15Out· KneeW16Out· KneeW17Questionable· Knee
2009	NO	0	W17Doubtful· Calf

Knox

StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →

Historical Knox · KV-H

Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 6-season peers. See all →

peak 48

Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season

D2006

D2008

C+2009

C+2010

F2011

D2012

Availability

Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 7 seasons.

56%

Era Translator

Rec Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.

Season	Actual Rec Yds	Rec Yds/G	→ 2025 Rec Yds	→ 2025 /G
2006	159	31.8	565+406	33.3
2008	93	15.5	250+157	14.7
2009	356	29.7	487+131	28.6
2010	219	18.3	298+79	17.5
2011	16	3.2	66+50	3.9
2012	86	12.3	204+118	12

Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:combine, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), nflverse:injuries · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026

Career Value · VORP

16 career value over replacement — #3292 all-time of 4,642. 2.7/season above a replacement-level TE.

Draft OutcomeValue ↑

Pick #86 (Rd 3) · NE · 2006 · +5.3 vs expected KV-H

44actual

38.7 expected · Δ+5.3

Fan Rating

Rate David Thomas — All-Time

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David Thomas

Archetype Intelligence

Career Value · VORP

Combined Season Grid

Rushing

Receiving

Advanced (EPA)

KV-H Anatomy

All-Time Standing

Career Aging Trajectory

Combine · 2006

Postseason Career

Rushing

Receiving

Advanced (EPA)

College Stats

Reference Graph

Top Teammates

2006 Draft Class· this player went #86

Franchise Succession

Similar Players

Movementderived from season history

Athletic & Unique Profile

Injury History

Knox

Era Translator