Denver Broncos will franchise tag Demaryius Thomas if need be

By Cory Buck | Feb 12, 2015

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) after the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

The Denver Broncos plan to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas if they can’t sign a new deal.

The Denver Broncos may not know what will happen with Peyton Manning, but they’re not taking any chances with the supporting cast. Ian Rapoport at NFL Media reports that the team plans to use the franchise tag on top receiver Demaryius Thomas if they can’t forge a long-term pact before the fiscal season ends on March 10.

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If the Broncos want to tag Thomas, it would cost the team about $13 million for a one-year deal, which would put the onus on them to then turn around and try to sign star tight end Julius Thomas. This may be a case where the team is forced to pick its poison as they still likely want to invest elsewhere in the roster. If they have to choose between pass-catching dudes with the last name Thomas, it’s going to be Demaryius all day.

Of that conundrum, Rapoport notes, “If general manager John Elway manages to keep the Thomas duo in Denver, the most likely scenario is via a long-term deal for Julius and the tag for Demaryius.”

Where would tagging Thomas leave the Broncos in the long run? That question could be tougher to ask, and it poses a risk for the team, given the history of the franchise tag.

While plenty of teams, including the Broncos, have had success with the franchise tag and seen it lead to a long-term deal down the road, others haven’t been so lucky. If Demaryius Thomas resents being stuck to Denver with a one-year deal when he clearly wants a long-term contract, that could make things trickier at the next round of negotiations.

But that’s the utility of a franchise tag and the team must do whatever it can to keep the band together while they still have Peyton Manning even thinking about playing another NFL season.

One has to wonder how much Manning’s wait to consider his playing options has to do with the unfolding of the Broncos offensive depth chart. If the team was to lose either Thomas, we wonder how that might impact Manning’s availability or willingness to play another season.

The Denver Broncos are clearly wondering that as well as they appear poised to do whatever is necessary to keep their skill players in town for another run at the Super Bowl in 2015.

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