What Michael Thomas' extension with Saints could mean for Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster
As a former second-round pick still on his rookie contract who has become a 100-catch centerpiece of an offense, the New Orleans Saints’ Michael Thomas has plenty in common with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster.
As such, how likely contract-extension negotiations play out this summer between Thomas and the Saints potentially could provide a roadmap for what happens between the Steelers and Smith-Schuster next year at this time.
Drafted a year before Smith-Schuster at No. 47 overall, Thomas is entering the final year of his contract. According to ESPN, the Saints “likely will find a way to take care of Thomas” in regards to a lucrative extension before the season begins. ESPN even speculates that “it’s not out of the question that Thomas could become the NFL’s first receiver to average $20 million per year.”
Michael Thomas is patiently waiting for what should be a monster payday https://t.co/8ZRqCTRE37
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 24, 2019
Smith-Schuster, the No. 62 overall pick in 2017, isn’t quite to Thomas’ level just yet. Thomas has 321 career catches, the most in NFL history for any player over his first three seasons. Smith-Schuster has 169 catches through two seasons.
That said, if Smith-Schuster matches his 2018 production (111 catches, 1,426 yards) this season without Antonio Brown as a running mate, that would signify he’s solidly in Thomas’ company as one of the NFL’s best receivers. He also would be 2 ½ years younger than Thomas when he was entering the final season of his contract, with when accounting for a year’s worth of NFL salary inflation could indicate that Smith-Schuster could demand a contract similar to what Thomas gets.
Not exactly an old dog himself, @TeamJuJu is ready to lead a young group of #Steelers wide receivers. https://t.co/0HrDaQncv4
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 23, 2019
Plenty has to happen before it gets to that point (Thomas gets his deal, Smith-Schuster stays healthy and has another monster season), but how the Saints/Thomas contract talks go might be something Steelers fans should keep an eye on.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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