The New Orleans Saints made an historic investment in their star wide receiver, Michael Thomas, on Wednesday, ending their top offensive weapon’s holdout.
Thomas had been seeking a new deal after opening his career with three consecutive seasons of at least 1,100 receiving yards, increasing his production each year and culminating in a 1,405 yard year in 2018. The Ohio State product was seeking a new deal that paid him like the best receiver in the NFL and got just that, as the Saints handed him a record-breaking 5-year, $100 million contract extension that makes him both the highest paid receiver in league history and the first non-QB to get a $100 million contract.
The #Saints & star WR Michael Thomas have reached a blockbuster, 5 yr $100M extension. This contract makes Thomas the highest paid WR in NFL History. He’s also the first non-QB offensive player to sign a $100M contract. Agents @DavidMulugheta & Andrew Kessler negotiated the deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 31, 2019
As always with NFL contracts, the guaranteed money is what really counts, and he’ll get $61 million on this extension guaranteed.
For the #Saints and WR Michael Thomas, his 5-year, $100M extension includes $61M in guarantees, sources say. And one of training camp’s holdouts is over.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 31, 2019
It’s a massive deal for Thomas and quite the commitment from the Saints to lock him up long-term on this kind of a deal. The 26-year-old receiver has been one of the best in the league since he entered it in 2016 and is more than deserving of this kind of money. The ripple effect this contract will have is likely to be felt swiftly — and within the same division — as New Orleans’ most hated rivals, the Falcons, are currently in negotiations for a new deal for their star receiver, Julio Jones.
Thomas’ deal now resets the market for an elite receiver and Jones will undoubtedly be looking to at least match, if not exceed, the contract received by Thomas.
