WR Thomas Agrees $100M Saints Deal, Drew Brees Says 'It's A Lot'

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas’ training camp holdout did not last long as he reached an agreement over a new deal with the Big Easy franchise. The 26-year-old has now committed to a five-year deal worth $100 million of which $61 million is guaranteed, making him the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL.

Thomas’ contract will see him remain with the Saints through to the 2024 campaign. The contract is worth $19.25 million per year for a total of $96.25 million and according to ESPN, he will have to reach elite-performance escalators in 2022 and 2023 to push the total value to $100 million.

The deal for the wide receiver marks a 1, 700 percent pay rise for the first-team All-Pro, whose 321 catches are by far the most in NFL history by a player in his first three seasons in the league. Thomas confirmed the deal and admitted that while it was well deserved it still feels “surreal”. He also committed his long-term future to the team and revealed that he wants to spend his entire career in Black and Gold.

"As I sit here and contemplate everything it took to get here, I can't help but smile," Thomas wrote in the tweet. "All the long nights, all the blood sweat and tears to prove to myself I not only belonged, but I could be the best at what I loved to do.”

"It still feels surreal, The Highest paid WR in NFL History. I can’t say I’m surprised but I can say I’m grateful. There is no place I'd rather be and look forward to spending my entire career in the black and gold!" he concluded his long post that also included gratitude toward the team owners and his family.

NBA legend LeBron James was one of the first to congratulate Thomas on his new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers forward claiming that it was well deserved. A number of teammates also congratulated the wide receiver with franchise quarterback Drew Brees admitting that $100 million was a lot of money but believes it is what the “market demanded” for a player he is keen to have on the team.

"If your question is: 'Do I want Michael Thomas on my team to be able to throw the ball to him' ... Yes," Brees said, as quoted on NOLA. "Obviously it was a lot of money, prices keep going up, but that's what the market demanded. That's a separate conversation."