The Facts: With the Broncos set to use the franchise player tag on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to go with needs on the offensive line, it will be tough for the Broncos to make fellow unrestricted free agent Julius Thomas the kind of offer he will likely draw elsewhere – similar to the Eric Decker scenario last offseason. Thomas’ representatives, as you would expect, have made it clear to the Broncos he wants to be among the league’s highest-paid players at the position.
Diehards Line:Certainly a player with back-to-back seasons of 12 touchdown receptions, as Thomas has had, is going to draw some interest in the open market. As a result, Thomas will be somebody’s priority target. It's not clear he'll be Denver's. As ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold notes, the flashes of performance are there – he was leading the league in touchdown catches this past season even several weeks after he suffered an ankle injury Nov. 16 in St. Louis, but he also hasn't started more than 14 games in any season because of ankle troubles. In addition, fellow TEs Virgil Green and Jacob Tamme will be unrestricted free agent. Green's skills as an in-line blocker make him valuable. Tamme is a versatile enough threat to fit into Gary Kubiak's offense. Thomas, meanwhile, will be a player we all watch with great interest when free agency cranks up.