Michael Thomas’ potential extension could affect Cleveland Browns, OBJ

The Cleveland Browns currently have the highest paid wide receiver with Odell Beckham Jr., but that could be changing soon with Michael Thomas.

The Cleveland Browns took on a major contract when they traded for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who is currently the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL with an average salary of $18 million.

Beckham is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL and is still only 26-years-old, so it is a worthwhile commitment for the Browns, especially because of how dynamic he could be with Baker Mayfield.

However, Beckham may not be the highest-paid wide receiver by the time he plays his first regular season game for the Cleveland Browns. Instead, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas could be in line to take over that honor.

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Dianna Russini of ESPN reported June 18 that contract extension talks between the Saints and Thomas were progressing and the Saints were comfortable making him the highest paid receiver. A couple of days later, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com reported Thomas was looking to be paid $22 million annually, which would eclipse Beckham’s annual pay.

Duncan also reported that the Saints were aiming to pay Thomas around $18 million. But if the Saints and Thomas are able to reach a middle ground and finish the extension, it may not take too long to affect the Browns.

When the Browns traded for Beckham, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that Beckham wanted more money added to his deal after Antonio Brown received more money on his deal with no extra years added to the deal this offseason. But since that report, there has been no talk of the Browns and Beckham reworking his deal.

However, if Thomas overtakes Beckham as the highest paid receiver in the NFL, the talks about Beckham wanting more money added to his deal without adding any years may start to heat up again. Beckham understands how talented of a receiver he is and may want his contract to show how talented of a receiver he is.

But adding money to Beckham’s deal may prove to be difficult for the Browns. Cleveland may not be tight to the salary cap currently, but that is subject to change in the next couple of seasons, even with Beckham’s current deal. As the Browns sign more of their young players to extensions, they are going to be pressing right up against the salary cap.

Cleveland will be forced to make plenty of personnel decisions to accommodate those extensions or if they want to sign certain players to extensions. So after their busy offseason adding players like Beckham, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson, the Browns have to start being smart about their cap space because they could end losing many important players.

Adding a few million dollars to Beckham’s deal may not seem like a huge difference, but it could make things even more difficult for the Browns front office. So if Thomas completes the extension with the Saints and makes close to the $22 million he wants, it could greatly affect the Browns, especially if Beckham will want to remain the highest paid receiver in the NFL.