With the Jacksonville Jaguars currently in the midst of OTAs, much is being made of the struggles of Mike Thomas. Mark Long of the Associated Press recently gave a scathing twitter post in regards to Thomas.
The more I watch the Jaguars practice, the less convinced I am that WR Mike Thomas will be on roster after training camp
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) May 23, 2012
While struggles are a good reason to think that he will be let go by the Jaguars, his contract may be what keeps him around. This past October, Thomas signed a three year extension worth $18 million with an extra $9 million guaranteed. Florida Times Union writer Tania Ganguli goes into detail more about his salary and figures that Thomas will make money from the Jaguars regardless of whether or not he's on the roster.
That makes about $6 million between this season and next season that the Jaguars have to pay Thomas whether he is on the roster or not.
If the Jaguars do keep him, it will help with wide receiver depth if nothing else. And despite his production dropping to 415 yards last season, the wide receiver caught passes for 820 yards in 2010. He could find an opportunity to play one way or another.
For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars visit SB Nation's Jaguars blog Big Cat Country.