With a little more than 48 hours to go until the deadline for signing franchise players to long-term deals comes and goes for 2015, some think the Broncos could take a page from their 2013 playbook, when they signed tackle Ryan Clady to a long-term deal as the window for inking tagged players to multi-year contracts closed.
That same outcome is still possible for Thomas, but as of right now it would be an upset.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, it’s currently “not likely” that the Broncos and Thomas will work out a new contract before the close of business on Wednesday.
It means that Thomas and the Broncos thereafter would be able to do only a one-year contract. The terms could be changed; the Broncos could, in theory, offer more than the $12.8 million tender to get him to show up for training camp, or they could promise not to use the franchise tag on him in 2016.
If he plays for $12.8 million in 2015, the Broncos would have to give him a 20-percent raise in order to tag him again next year. That’s more than $15.3 million for a receiver they may not be able to fully utilize if quarterback Peyton Manning retires after the coming season.
Given Manning’s uncertain status beyond 2015, a multi-year investment in Thomas also may not make much sense for the Broncos. Then there’s the aftermath of the 2013 contract with Clady, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week Two of the 2013 season and who already is done for 2015 with a torn ACL.
