Broncos TE Julius Thomas comments on Jimmy Graham contract debate

Julius Thomas is in line to receive a substantial raise in pay after a breakout season with Denver last season and the Broncos tight end is paying close attention to the ongoing case involving New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.

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Graham was given the franchise tag by the Saints with the tight end designation which pays approximately $5 million less than receivers who are given the franchise tag and Graham is arguing that because he lined up as a receiver more than he did a tight end, he is entitled to the number given to receivers.

Depending on what happens with Graham could have an impact on Thomas who plays a similar role to that of Graham and often lines up in the slot or flexed out wide in the Broncos record-breaking offense and could play into the negotiations he and the Broncos are currently having.

“I’ve kind of been keeping … an eye on that situation, obviously, because it could probably come back to affect a lot of us tight ends,” said Thomas, via Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press. “But the way I feel about it is, ‘Does two letters next to your name on the depth chart really determine your value to a team?‘”

“Does it matter if he’s a tight end, or if he calls himself a slot receiver or a running back?” Thomas said. “I mean, if you’re going to have double-digit touchdowns and contribute a bunch of yards in the receiving game, I just say that you’re a guy that makes great plays and are a value to your team. So I don’t know why the argument necessarily comes down to either you’re a tight end or a receiver. I think that if you’re a guy that makes plays, that’s how you should be valued.”

Thomas recorded 65 receptions for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013 and is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the 2014 season.

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