Demaryius Thomas Wants Calvin Johnson Money--But Will He Get It?

Demaryius Thomas has become one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL over the last few years. With Peyton Manning behind center he has been able to accomplish great things. Over the course of the last three seasons he has caught 297 balls for 4483 yards and 35 touchdowns.

His numbers are easily among the best in the NFL--and now he wants to get paid accordingly.

via Reddit

Word is that he wants to be paid similar to Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, $16 million a season with $48 million guaranteed. Is he worth it though? Well--when you consider that Thomas has caught more balls (297 to Johnson's 277) and more touchdown passes (35 to Johnson's 25) the answer would seem pretty easy.

So how come the Broncos haven't paid it yet?

The key is going to be the guaranteed amount. Thomas will likely not want to take less than $40 million, but it also doubtful the team is going to want to pay it. What they will likely do is stonewall him until he has to sign the franchise tender of $12.8 million. Next off-season they will hit him with the franchise tag again, and hope that the Dallas Cowboys set the market for young wide receivers by paying Dez Bryant first.

If Dallas doesn't they will likely go with the franchise tag again ($15 million). That means they will end up paying him around $28 million the next two seasons relative to $32 million should they give him the deal he wants.

Will he get what he wants then? Who knows. Peyton Manning will have likely retired by than so the team may try to dump high-priced players and rebuild or they may decided to pay him so he'll stay and make Brock Osweiler look better than he is.

[Denver Post]

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