Michael Thomas reworked his contract, setting up a crucial decision for the Saints to enter the league in 2023. Based on ESPN’s Yates SchoolWidespread recipients and the Saints have agreed to a restructured deal to give the organization some additional flexibility to cancel contracts this upcoming season.
Specifically, Thomas reduced his 2023 base salary from $15.5 million to $1.165 million. In return, the extension now has a roster bonus of $31.755 million in 2024 that is due on the third day of the 2023 tournament year (March 17, 2023). For joining, the Saints awarded Thomas a $900,000 signing bonus.
As Yates explains, this remake ensures that the Saints’ decision about the recipient’s future, “will be made quickly.” If that $32 million listing bonus is guaranteed, the front office will be left with a limited number of dead. If the team decides to cut off the receiver (which will likely be designated as cut off after June 1), the team will have an additional $14 million in flexible limits thanks to today’s maneuvers. The organization will still have more than $25 million left in the death limit, but those extra savings will still be substantial for a group that is expected to go over the limit.
If Thomas is disqualified, he will immediately become a free agent. Considering the March 17 deadline, this will allow for extensive bargaining with groups ahead of standard free agent recipients. In fact, The Saints could keep Thomas and still get the savings they have today, but such a route would require the team to make a major financial commitment during the 2024 campaign.
Put more simply, it’s the general consensus that today’s contract restructuring will eventually result in the Saints parting with the wide receiver this season. Thomas hasn’t been productive and/or healthy for three seasons, so it’s unlikely the Saints will make a financial commitment for a questionable fourth season, much less season five. In addition, thanks to the development of Chris Olave and Rashid ShaheedThe team doesn’t rely much on Thomas’s advantage, especially with a roster that seems focused on the future.
The receiver had a prolific campaign in 2019, seeing him collect 149 tackles for 1,725 yards receiving the ball, leading to the title of Offensive Player of the Year. Since then, Thomas has been limited to playing 10 games over three seasons, contributing only 56 hits for 609 yards. Entering the season in his 30s, Thomas can’t expect a well-paid day when he’s certain to be a free agent, but there are still plenty of candidates lined up waiting for his return. his service.
