Report: Saints Comfortable Making Michael Thomas Highest-Paid WR on New Contract

Michael Thomas is working toward a new contract with the New Orleans Saints and it appears he's going to get a big deal.

According to Dianna Russini of ESPN, the "Saints are comfortable making him the highest paid receiver in the game."

Thomas led the NFL with 125 catches last season, adding 1,405 receiving yards and nine touchdowns while being named first-team All-Pro.

Over his first three years in the NFL, the 26-year-old averaged an impressive 80.6 receiving yards per game during the regular season. In the playoffs, he averaged 105.8 yards with three touchdowns in four games.

Despite his production, he's been relatively underpaid as a professional because he was only taken in the second round of the 2016 draft.

Thomas signed a $5.1 million deal out of college and will have a $1.6 million cap hit in 2019 for the final year of his rookie deal, per Spotrac.

His average annual salary ranks just 95th in the league despite him clearly being one of the best on the field.

The Saints seem ready to rectify the situation and could give the receiver a new deal to match or exceed Odell Beckham Jr., who signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the New York Giants before being traded to the Cleveland Browns.

Considering Thomas had 97 more catches than the next highest wide receiver on the Saints last season, his value to the team is clear. New Orleans is ready to do whatever it takes to keep him on the roster.