Demaryius Thomas - #49 Overall in NFL

GTonTop88

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QUOTE="daBuzz, post: 54757, member: 56"]If CJ isn't in the top 10, then it's the dumbest list ever. Honestly, he should be in the top 3.[/QUOTE]
He's been #3 the past two seasons, id say he gets #2 this year behind Peyton
 
Ggee87

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GTonTop88 said:
QUOTE="daBuzz, post: 54757, member: 56"]If CJ isn't in the top 10, then it's the dumbest list ever. Honestly, he should be in the top 3.
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He's been #3 the past two seasons, id say he gets #2 this year behind Peyton[/QUOTE]
He is the most dominant player at his position. The gap between him and everybody else is larger than players at other positions. When asked the question "whos the best QB in the NFL?" You would get a few answers to choose from. If you ask whos the best WR in the NFL.. Its usually hands down Calvin Johnson. #2 or even #1 would be right where he belongs.
 
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Techster

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If you look at it from a personnel standpoint, then you have to pay DT like one of the top WRs in the NFL. Manning probably has another 2 years, 3 max, left in that arm. By then DT will be 28-29 years old which is the prime years for a WR. Once Manning is gone, who's left for the next QB? The author is saying $12+ million is a lot of money, but if you follow NFL free agency, in 2-3 years that could be chump change for a top flight WR. Remember, the salary cap goes up every year, so Elway would actually be getting a deal to lock DT up early before the market explodes. $12 million may actually be under valuing DT.

I get the argument that Peyton Manning has helped DT's numbers...but you have to think DT has also helped Manning. DT leads the league in yards after the catch with 700+ yards...that's half his output of total reception yards! Defenses also have to play DT differently because he can hurt you in so many ways...and that in turn limits the defense to an extent, which helps Manning in the big picture.
 
jeffgt14

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Techster said:
If you look at it from a personnel standpoint, then you have to pay DT like one of the top WRs in the NFL. Manning probably has another 2 years, 3 max, left in that arm. By then DT will be 28-29 years old which is the prime years for a WR. Once Manning is gone, who's left for the next QB? The author is saying $12+ million is a lot of money, but if you follow NFL free agency, in 2-3 years that could be chump change for a top flight WR. Remember, the salary cap goes up every year, so Elway would actually be getting a deal to lock DT up early before the market explodes. $12 million may actually be under valuing DT.

I get the argument that Peyton Manning has helped DT's numbers...but you have to think DT has also helped Manning. DT leads the league in yards after the catch with 700+ yards...that's half his output of total reception yards! Defenses also have to play DT differently because he can hurt you in so many ways...and that in turn limits the defense to an extent, which helps Manning in the big picture.
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The problem comes with Peyton’s salary and needing to resign guys like Von Miller as well. I don’t think they can afford the $10 million a year for Thomas without being completely screwed once Peyton retires.
 
Techster

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jeffgt14 said:
The problem comes with Peyton’s salary and needing to resign guys like Von Miller as well. I don’t think they can afford the $10 million a year for Thomas without being completely screwed once Peyton retires.
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Peyton Manning doesn't make as much as the top QBs in the league...though he still makes a lot of money. Once Manning retires, they either need to draft a young stud (ala Seattle, Washington, Indianapolis, etc.) or sign a veteran. Veterans like Manning hitting free agency is a rarity...and it only happened because of the confluence of his neck injury and Indianapolis having the opportunity to draft Manning 2.0 in Luck. The better play is to draft a young guy that's tied into the draft scale for 4-5 years like Luck, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, and RG3. That means Denver will have a TON of cap space (not to mention cap space increasing annually). By the end of the rookie QB's contract, DT's new contract will have ended and he'll be on the downside of his career in which case they can go to short term contracts like most older veterans. Also, it's not certain Von Miller will get top dollar. He's been injury prone and has a history of PEDs. Kinda hard to demand top dollar with that kind of history.

Also, keep in mind that DT will be the only weapon really left of Denver's roster once Manning leaves. Julius Thomas is a product of Manning. Wes Welker probably has a few more years and will retire with Manning. Eric Decker is already gone. What proven commodity on offense is left for the new QB? There's lots of ways to manipulate the salary cap, it's just up to Elway to draft well and sign free agents well. There are maybe 4-5 WRs on the same level as DT right now. Those guys will never see free agency during their prime, so you either pay market rate for DT, or run the risk of franchising him (which is the average of the top 5 players at the position...which would be well over 12+ million) and hurting yourself short term, or letting him go to market and paying an exorbitant amount. The better play is to pay him now before guys like AJ Green, and Dez Bryant it free agency and drive up the rate for elite WRs. Either way you look at it, Denver is going to pay. You want to pay now and structure the contract where the cap hit doesn't hurt you and gives you flexibility...like what the Falcons did with Matt Ryan.
 
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