With Michael Thomas paid, New Orleans Saints avoid trouble
The New Orleans Saints made Michael Thomas the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history but it’s a win-win situation for both parties involved.
Every time the New Orleans Saints start getting close to their goal, something stands in their way. Last year, it was that no-call during their playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. This year, the potential obstacle appeared to be star wide receiver Michael Thomas not reporting to training camp amidst contract negotiations.
Thankfully, the Saints and Thomas were able to work out a deal. For the Saints, they get to keep their star receiver while Thomas becomes the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. It’s a huge honor and one that Thomas has earned.
With Thomas paid, the Saints avoid a huge headache in dealing with contract negotiations during the regular season and can focus solely on their goal of getting to the Super Bowl. Let’s break down Thomas’ contract and get into the reasons why the Saints were able to work out a deal.
Looking at the details, Thomas signed a new five-year contract extension with the Saints. The deal is worth an unprecedented $100 million with $61 million guaranteed. The deal essentially keeps Thomas with the Saints until he’s 31 years old and, hopefully, will be the catalyst to Thomas stepping up his game a little bit more — as if he really needs to.
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The main reason the Saints were able to work out a deal is that they know what the value of Thomas. Thomas is the first player among a multitude of holdouts throughout the NFL. It’s something to note as the Saints didn’t play around. Training camp didn’t even start until a week ago and the Saints already locked Thomas down. It might have taken a lot of money crunching but they got their guy.
Another reason the Saints didn’t wait was that Thomas is arguably their biggest weapon on offense. Some could argue that Alvin Kamara is that guy, but Kamara still needs more time in the NFL to prove his worth. Unlike Kamara, Thomas has single-handedly become the Saints only reliable receiver and was part of the reason why the team traded Brandin Cooks. Thomas’ value to the Saints is much more than a dollar sign.
Looking at Thomas’ stats, he’s earned his contract. In his time with the Saints, Thomas has recorded three straight 1,000-plus-yard seasons, appeared in every single game besides one (during his rookie season) and has 23 touchdowns during his tenure. While his touchdown numbers are lower, the team was shifting to becoming a more run-heavy offense and Thomas was happy to pick up those necessary yards.
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I’d be remiss not to mention that the New Orleans Saints likely won’t go to the Super Bowl without Michael Thomas. The team doesn’t have a solid group behind him and Drew Brees would suffer because of it. Putting the entire workload on Kamara would essentially make the team one-note and result in a severe decline. Thankfully, the Saints were able to pay Thomas and keep their Super Bowl aspirations right on track.