Broncos are fielding trade offers for Demaryius Thomas

Demaryius Thomas has been a fixture in the Denver Broncos offense since first exploding onto the scene in 2012 as a third-year pro, but it sounds like the organization could be ready to part ways with the long-time Bronco.

A first-round pick out of Georgia Tech in the 2010 NFL Draft, Demaryius Thomas came into the league with high expectations, and he’s managed to exceed those expectations eight years later. Thomas is a former Super Bowl champion who was the No. 1 wide receiver in a record-breaking offense, and he’s been an important part of the Denver Broncos franchise over the past several years.

However, the Broncos need to have their eyes on the future, as they are no longer a contending team in the AFC West with a makeshift group of quarterbacks on the roster (Case Keenum, Chad Kelly, and Kevin Hogan).

As such, the Broncos, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, are “listening” to trade offers for Thomas, who is exiting the prime of his career at 30. While the Broncos have received interest in the 31-year-old Emmanuel Sanders, Schefter reports that Denver is uninterested in parting ways with Sanders, who is both more explosive and more versatile than Thomas.

Although he is no longer the same wide receiver who topped 1,300 yards in four straight seasons, including 1,619 in 2014, Thomas remains a productive weapon who can be a standout No. 2 option in a passing attack. There are several wide receiver-needy teams in the league, such as the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, who could see Thomas as the piece that pushes them into something approaching playoff contention.

It will be interesting to see how serious the Broncos are about moving Thomas, but the fact that they are at least fielding offers is noteworthy. It shows that Denver is thinking about removing older star players and moving towards the future, with Schefter singling out Courtland Sutton as an up-and-comer who could angle for more playing time if Thomas is traded.

Amari Cooper seems to be the biggest name on the trading block, as the Oakland Raiders continue to clean out star players under head coach Jon Gruden. While Thomas is older and less exciting at this stage of his career, he is more consistent and would cost less in the form of draft picks, with the Raiders potentially seeking a first-round pick for Cooper.

Thomas is currently averaging over 50 receiving yards per game, and while his stats continue to fall, part of that is due to Denver’s offense and quarterback situation. Though Thomas is slowing done, he can offer more to a team with a better quarterback situation, and it is worth noting that he’s never dipped below 50 receiving yards per game in a season since 2010, which was his first year in the NFL.