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Demaryius Thomas

Latest On Demaryius Thomas

December 5th, 2014 at 8:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas is set to hit unrestricted free agency at season’s end, but he indicated yesterday that he was willing to take something of a hometown discount in order to remain in Denver. As Thomas spoke with reporters today, including Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com, he indicated once more that he would prefer to stay with the Broncos. “I think it’s just respect to this town, even to the team,” said Thomas. “…Of course I’d like to keep playing with Peyton [Manning].”

In observing his free agency prospects, Thomas will be forced to quantify the importance of Manning, and estimate how much longer he will be catching passes from the future Hall of Famer. Ideally (for Thomas), Manning will continue playing for several more seasons — the quarterback’s contract runs through 2016, at which point he will be 40 years old. If the Broncos sign Thomas to a five-year deal, for example, he’ll be forced to trust that the club will continue to succeed during the later years of such an extension, when Manning will likely be gone. Denver selected current backup Brock Osweiler in the second round of the 2012 draft, but it’s unclear if he is the team’s answer as the long-term replacement for Manning. Thomas, therefore, would likely want to be assured that a post-Manning plan is in place.

Thomas did not entirely rule out the possibility of joining a new team, and referenced his former teammate Eric Decker‘s decision to sign with the Jets earlier this year. “He seemed happy to me, and I think that’s all that really matters when it comes to a guy making a decision he makes,” Thomas said. “…If I’m here I’ll be happy, if I have to go somewhere else then we can stop and talk about later.”

Though we heard in July that the Broncos had offered an extension to Thomas, reports in October suggested the club didn’t expect to sign him in-season. Of course, Denver will have several high-profile players enter free agency this offseason, including tight end Julius Thomas, whom many expect to be franchise-tagged, and cornerback Chris Harris.

Demaryius Thomas Could Take Discount

December 4th, 2014 at 8:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Demaryius Thomas will be one of this offseason’s top free agents and there’s no doubt he’s in line for big money. Still, the possibility exists that he would take a hometown discount from the Broncos.

“Of course, why not?” Thomas said in an interview with Dan Hellie of the NFL Network (via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com). “Peyton Manning is one of the best in the game, and I’ve been blessed to have him as my quarterback. I learned so much of him. Denver, of course I gotta take my hats off to them, because they took a chance of drafting me in the first round.”

Of course, how much of a discount the star wide receiver is willing to take remains to be seen and he might have a change of heart when he sees the offers that come his way. The Broncos surely hope they have that leg up over the competition as they’ll have to carve out space for both Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. Ideally, Denver might look to lock the wide receiver for the long term while applying the franchise tag to the tight end.

In a recent poll, the overwhelming majority of you said that Demaryius Thomas should be Denver’s top extension priority over Julius Thomas and breakout cornerback Chris Harris. While they’re at the top of the list, the Broncos opted to table in-season deals for both Thomases back in October and will resume negotiations after the season. Demaryius Thomas currently has 88 catches, 1,255 yards, and ten touchdowns through 12 games this season. With 145 more yards, he’ll be only the third receiver in NFL history to enjoy a season with 1,450 yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison.

Demaryius Thomas currently occupies the No. 3 spot on Pro Football Rumors’ 2015 free agent power rankings.

AFC Notes: Hoyer, Oher, Broncos

November 16th, 2014 at 11:04am CST by Rory Parks

Much has been made of Brian Hoyer‘s future as the impending free agent continues to inch the Browns closer to an improbable playoff berth, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter writes that, if Hoyer does leave Cleveland after 2014–which would “shock” at least one prominent talking head–the Texans would be a likely destination. As Schefter writes, “Hoyer trusts [Texans head coach Bill] O’Brien as much as any coach in the league from their time together in New England, per sources, and would welcome a reunion.” Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Cardinals‘ head coach during Hoyer’s one season in Arizona, would also have interest in bringing Hoyer to Tennessee. Schefter writes that a long-term deal between Hoyer and Cleveland will “get done only as soon as the Browns truly are ready to make Hoyer, not Johnny Manziel, their long-term quarterback.”

Now for some more links from the AFC (an NFC Notes post from this busy Sunday can be found here):

Free Agency Notes: Suh, Bryant, Pierre-Paul

November 14th, 2014 at 5:48pm CST by Rob DiRe

Many NFL teams are focused on making the playoffs during the home stretch of the season, but many of their top players are also worried about their impending free agency. Field Yates of ESPN.com put together a list of five players who are set to receive huge contracts this offseason (subscription required).

The headliner of that list is Lions‘ defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who may be leaving Detroit this offseason for a contract in the range of what J.J. Watt received this past offseason. Dez Bryant, Justin Houston, Demaryius Thomas, and Randall Cobb also made the list of players set up to be paid after the season.

Here are some other notes on player movement this offseason:

  • Along with the list of players who are ready to get big contracts, Yates also listed five players who have seen their stocks soar since the beginning of the season. Much like the five top free agents, the five soaring stocks all come from potential playoff teams. Yates points to DeMarco Murray, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Hoyer, Mark Ingram, and Chris Harris Jr..
  • Bryant appears on Yates’ list of players set up for big contracts, but Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com expects the superstar wide receiver to remain with the Cowboys for at least two more seasons (via Twitter). Archer writes that the Cowboys always keep a player they want, and won’t lose Bryant if they want to keep him (via Twitter).
  • One big name player who doesn’t appear on Yates’ list is Giants‘ defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul has been inconsistent since his breakout 2011 season when he recorded 16.5 sacks. The embattled Giant is ambivalent about returning to the team next year, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (via Twitter). “Hey, if I’m here, I’m here,” said Pierre-Paul. “If I’m not, I’m not.”

Sunday Roundup: Lynch, Broncos, 49ers

October 26th, 2014 at 12:33pm CST by Rory Parks

The Seahawks traded Percy Harvin amid rumors that his presence had created a rift in the locker room, and now no one expects Marshawn Lynch to return to Seattle next year, including Lynch himself, writes ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adds that Lynch has grown increasingly “salty” over his contract and his role in the Seahawks’ offense, and Seattle is simply tired of contending with his persistent discontent. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Lynch communicates minimally, if at all, with head coach Pete Carroll and the Seahawks’ management.

Citing NFL Media’s Michael Robinson, Conor Orr of NFL.com writes that the time is now for Russell Wilson to lead his team through this shroud of controversy and distraction, and as far as the on-field ramifications of Lynch’s potential departure, Rapoport tweets that he expects Seattle to take a running back early in next year’s draft. Mortensen writes that the Seahawks may have made Lynch available via trade this year, but the trickle-down effect from fullback Derrick Coleman‘s recent injury has taken that option off the table.

Now for some more notes from around the league:

  • Brian McIntyre tweets that, if the Seahawks do, in fact, release Lynch in 2015, they will have saved $17.5MM in cash and $12.7MM in cap space with the departures of Lynch and Harvin.
  • Our Luke Adams wrote several days ago that the Broncos do not anticipate reaching a contract extension with either of their top pending free agents, Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas. Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that the offers Denver made to the Thomases remain on the table, but it appears nothing will happen until the offseason. Klis goes on to note that the contract situations of both players are quite different, and he describes what it might take for Denver to retain both (spoiler: a lot of money).
  • Rapoport tweets that the 49ers could get Aldon Smith back as early as Monday, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter writes that, with the impending returns of Smith, NaVorro Bowman, and Glenn Dorsey, San Francisco could be looking to deal a defensive player or two from the back end of its depth chart to create roster space for those players.
  • Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that the Steelers, after making little effort to re-sign Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery in the offseason, are still looking for a reliable complement for Antonio Brown.
  • Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel wonders if the Packers will make a trade to address their weakness at inside linebacker.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com tweets that, if the Jets part ways with head coach Rex Ryan, the Falcons would be the perfect landing spot for him.
  • Joel Corry of National Football Post takes a deeper look at Gerald McCoy’s new deal with the Buccaneers.

 

Poll: Broncos’ Top Extension Priority?

October 23rd, 2014 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported earlier today that the Broncos don’t intend to discuss contract extensions with either Demaryius Thomas or Julius Thomas until after the season. That has since been confirmed by multiple reporters, including Mike Klis of the Denver Post and Albert Breer of the NFL Network, who indicated that the team hasn’t engaged in talks with either player since August.

The Broncos will do their best to keep all their impact players heading into next season, but the team will only have one franchise tag available, and the salary cap will almost certainly limit Denver’s ability to keep all its key free agents. Besides the Thomases, wideout Wes Welker and – more importantly – cornerback Chris Harris are among the team’s other players eligible to test the open market.

Harris, who is playing this season on a restricted free agent tender, ranked eighth among cornerbacks in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), and has been even better so far this year. Per PFF, quarterbacks throwing into Harris’ coverage have completed 12 of 32 attempts for 101 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception, good for a 33.5 QB rating. The 25-year-old’s outstanding play has made him one of the cornerstones of Denver’s improved defensive unit.

Of course, in Demaryius and Julius Thomas, the Broncos have two players who rank among the best at their respective positions in the NFL. Demaryius has averaged 1,432 receiving yards over the last two seasons, and is on pace to blow past that mark this year, while Julius leads the NFL with nine receiving touchdowns in just six games. Even though Peyton Manning could post big numbers throwing to just about anyone, losing either Thomas would be a significant blow to the Broncos’ passing attack.

What do you think? Which of the Broncos’ top three prospective free agents is the most important for the team to extend? Does the club need to make sure it retains one or both of Manning’s top targets, or is keeping the young, shutdown cornerback the top priority?

Broncos Don’t Expect In-Season Deals For Demaryius, Julius Thomas

October 23rd, 2014 at 8:40am CST by Luke Adams

A pair of Peyton Manning‘s top weapons face free agency this winter, but the Broncos don’t anticipate working out contract extensions with either Demaryius Thomas or Julius Thomas during the season, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Instead, the team will table discussions for now and resume negotiations with both players once the season is over, Schefter reports.

The Broncos reportedly initiated talks with their top receiver and top tight end back in June, and GM John Elway provided an update just before training camp got underway, indicating that the club expected to remain in contact with both players about their contracts during camp and the preseason. So far, however, it seems as if Denver hasn’t been able to reach a compromise with either player’s camp, so it makes sense to postpone discussions as the team focuses on making a Super Bowl run.

Buoyed by a 17.0 yards per catch average, Demaryius Thomas ranks fifth in the NFL with 662 receiving yards in just six games, putting him on pace to obliterate his career high of 1,434 yards. As for Julius Thomas, no one at any position has grabbed more touchdowns than the tight end’s nine so far this season. In other words, both Thomases are on track to have monster seasons, meaning it won’t be easy for the Broncos to keep both players, even if the club uses the franchise tag on one of them.

Complicating matters further is the fact that wideout Wes Welker is also eligible for free agency at season’s end. Welker doesn’t put up the same sort of huge numbers that the Thomases do, and likely won’t be as high a priority when the team starts addressing contracts, but he’s still a significant part of the Broncos’ passing attack. Having to let go of him or one of the Thomases for the 2015 season would be a notable loss for Manning and company.

Over the summer, I looked at both Demaryius and Julius as potential extension candidates for the Broncos.

AFC Notes: Texans, Broncos, Jags, Spiller

September 5th, 2014 at 3:33pm CST by Luke Adams

With Ryan Mallett no longer in the Patriots‘ plans, the Texans were able to acquire Tom Brady‘s former backup last weekend on the cheap, parting ways with just a sixth- or seventh-round pick, depending on how much playing time Mallett sees in Houston. According to Lance Zierlein of Sports Talk 790 in Houston though, Mallett wasn’t the only signal-caller the Texans explored trading for. Zierlein tweets that Houston also targeted Matt Barkley of the Eagles before landing Mallett.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Broncos‘ contract talks with receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas aren’t dead but they’re not active either, writes Mike Klis of The Denver Post. Demaryius Thomas‘ agent Todd France probably wants to see a resolution to Dez Bryant‘s contract talks before striking a deal. Meanwhile, the Broncos have exchanged proposals with Orange Julius’ agent Frank Bauer but those talks appear to have stalled.
  • The Jaguars worked out kickers Derek Dimke and Alex Henery and even though they liked what they saw, they sent them home now that Josh Scobee is recovering from his groin injury, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
  • Bills running back C.J. Spiller, who could hit the open market this offseason, is signing on with agent Chad Speck, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
  • When Tom Brady and the Patriots part ways, former Pats center and CSNNE analyst Dan Koppen says it will be Bill Belichick‘s call, not Brady’s. “As long as Bill is here, he will make those decisions,” said Koppen. “If Tom is not carrying his weight or he’s in a decline Bill’s going to bring him in the office and have a little speech. “Maybe he gets a hug at the end, but I guarantee it’s going to be, ‘Tom, we’re going to release you. Thanks for coming. We appreciate everything You’ve done, but I’ve got to do what’s best for the football team.'”
  • In his latest piece for NFL.com, Albert Breer examines the quarterback situations for the Jaguars, Chiefs, Raiders, and Bills, including a look at the rookies in Jacksonville and Oakland, as well as Kansas City’s investment in Alex Smith.
  • People around the league believe that Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith has plenty of good football ahead of him, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “Steve’s getting up there in age, but he hasn’t changed his tenacity and physicality,” said former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, an NBC analyst. “He’s still able to impose his will. When you talk about his style of play, pairing up with the Baltimore Ravens, the two go hand in hand. He brings that toughness to the offense they haven’t had since Anquan Boldin was playing for them.”

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Groves, Broncos, Watt, Raiders

July 22nd, 2014 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

As we look forward to more training camps around the NFL opening this week, let’s round up a few items from across the AFC….

  • Edge defender and special-teamer Quentin Groves worked out for the Jets on Monday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Groves has been busy since being released by the Browns in early June, auditioning for the Redskins, Patriots, and Titans, though he has yet to find a home for the coming season.
  • Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas are both extension candidates for the Broncos, but Mike Klis of the Denver Post points out that the tight end figures to be motivated to get a deal done sooner. As a fourth-round pick in 2011, Julius Thomas’ career earnings to date are dwarfed by Demaryius Thomas’, since the receiver was selected in the first round in 2010.
  • The Texans have made a habit of extending their best players well before their contracts expire, and could make a statement with J.J. Watt by becoming the first team to lock up a 2011 first-rounder to an extension, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
  • Citing a repaired salary cap and financial structure, Raiders owner Mark Davis says he feels like the team had a “phenomenal” offseason, as Jerry McDonald of the San Jose Mercury News details.

Latest On Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas

July 16th, 2014 at 7:04pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos have made contract offers to star wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas but Broncos General Manager John Elway says that we shouldn’t expect a deal to be struck in the next week.

“Nothing is going to get done before camp, but we’ll keep talking to them in camp,” Elway told Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today Sports. “I’m never going to go into the season, but the first couple of weeks, we can continue to talk about it. After the second week of the preseason, we’ll want to have had something done, one way or another.”

The two men, who combined for 157 catches, 2,218 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns in Denver’s record-setting offense last year, are entering the final years of their rookie contracts. Meanwhile, Elway indicated that the Broncos have not received a response from Julius Thomas’ camp after making the offer, believing that his reps wanted to see how Jimmy Graham‘s grievance against the NFL and subsequent contract negotiations played out. Graham wound up getting a hefty four-year, $40MM deal, but Elway has no intentions of going near that range for Thomas.

“Even though Julius had a tremendous year for us, he’s only (played) 23 games. We want Julius to be a Bronco for a long time and we think he has tremendous upside, but he’s not at that level,” Elway said.

Earlier this month, our own Luke Adams predicted that the Broncos’ standout tight end could land a five-year deal in the range of $35-40MM with a $10-13MM guarantee. That’s not Graham money, but that would be a solid payday for the 26-year-old.

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