The Denver Broncos are heading into 2015 with Peyton manning desiring to return at quarterback and the team now is concentrating on getting a deal done with Demaryius Thomas and if they can't work out a long term contract, the team could hit him with the franchise tag and this comes as Julius Thomas could leave in free agency, which could make Jordan Cameron, Jermaine Gresham and Owen Daniel potential targets.
The Broncos have a number of significant players hitting free agency with Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Wes Welker and Terrance Knighton coming off the books and Thomas appears to be the main priority. Demaryius Thomas is likely to get a massive contract, but if the team can't agree on a long term deal, there is a chance he could be hit with the franchise tag. According to Pro Football Talk, Thomas the wide receiver is not likely to hit the market, as the Broncos are planning to use the franchise tag if a deal is not reached.
Thomas the tight end is more likely to leave, as the team needs to sign Thomas and may not want to pay big for a tight end. Thomas had some injury issues last season and he is expected to be a main target for teams on the market. The Cleveland Browns, Raiders and Jets are expected to chase him and they could price out the Broncos with all the cap space they have. Thomas has had 24 touchdown catches over the past two seasons and has been a top target for Manning.
The Broncos have not yet made things official with Peyton Manning, but GM John Elway said that he will "be our quarterback next year". Some have speculated that the Broncos want Manning to take a pay cut and that is why the team has not officially brought Manning back. After the season Manning took time to decide his future and reports came out that he spoke with the team about coming back. Mike Klis on Twitter reported that Elway deflected questions about Manning and that he said the QB had "yet to reach a definitive decision" about coming back.
According to ESPN.com, Manning will count for over $20 million on the cap for his $15 million salary and while that isn't a ton of money, it's a significant part of the payroll. Manning is 38 years old and will have a new coach coming in after Gary Kubiak was hired to take over for John Fox. Manning dealt with a leg injury down the stretch and was not as effective in the second half of the season, including in the playoffs loss to the Colts.
The Broncos may be more inclined to bring in a veteran backup or at least some insurance if Manning goes down and that could be part of asking him for a pay decrease. Manning obviously is a Hall of Fame talent, but the team also has to think realistically. The Broncos may look at tight ends on the market this offseason, as players like Jermaine Gresham, Jordan Cameron and Owen Daniels could be fits if Thomas leaves. Cameron reportedly will not sign with the Browns and could be a cheap option after dealing with injuries in 2014.
