Broncos don’t drop ball in bringing back Thomas

Demaryius Thomas isn’t going anywhere.

As general manager John Elway said they would, the Broncos have exercised the $4 million option on wide receiver Thomas’ contract to trigger the final two years on his deal, according to an NFL source.

The eight-year veteran signed a five-year, $70 million contract in 2015 and is due a total payout of $22.5 million in salary over the next two years. In 2018, Thomas has an $8.5 million base salary and carries the team’s second-largest salary cap charge at about $12.03 million.

The money is significant, but so is his play.

Since 2012, Thomas has been the Broncos’ leading receiver despite multiple quarterback and coaching changes. And he’s a key piece of the Broncos’ offense moving forward with quarterback Case Keenum.

Though there was speculation early in the offseason that the Broncos might consider cutting ties with either Thomas or receiver Emmanuel Sanders to clear cap room, Elway quickly put an end to such talk.

“The plan is to have them back,” he said definitively at the NFL combine.

Besides, behind the Broncos’ top two pass catchers is an inconsistent and revolv-

Keenum by the numbers

ing door of receivers with many questions heading into 2018.

Bennie Fowler was not tendered and will be an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. Cody Latimer, a former second-round pick, will join him on the open market. Carlos Henderson, a third-round selection last year, spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve. And fellow rookie Isaiah McKenzie was benched multiple times because of fumbles. Jordan Taylor, an undrafted receiver out of Rice, proved to be among the most consistent contributors in spite of multiple personnel changes.

Over the years, Thomas has taken considerable heat for his drops and perceived “non-elite” play by critics. But as the most-tenured Bronco on the roster, he has been a consistent target, all while playing with six starting quarterbacks and for five head coaches and four offensive coordinators (counting two stints with Mike McCoy).

Thomas has also played through myriad injuries to start the last 106 consecutive game (playoffs included), the most of any receiver in the league.

“I don’t compare myself to guys who had the same quarterback their entire career,” Thomas told The Denver Post in an extensive interview last year. “Nothing against that — they’re blessed with that. But I don’t compare my numbers. This is what I compare: If I go out that week and I play good for my squad, then that’s all that really matters. If I play bad, then I feel bad about myself and I have to do it better.”

Thomas is one of only four NFL players to post five consecutive seasons (2012-16) with at least 90 catches and 1,000 receiving yards, and although he fell seven catches and 51 yards shy of making it six seasons last year, he continued to scale the Broncos’ record books. He moved into third place in career receptions (629), and second in both receiving yards (8,653) and receiving touchdowns (57). He already sits at No. 1 in Broncos history with 35 career 100-yard receiving games and is the fastest Broncos player to log 600 catches (112 games).

Since he and Sanders joined forces in 2014, the Broncos have boasted a receiving duo that has topped 100 yards each in seven games (league most) and 1,000 yards each in three seasons.

The list of accolades and records will only continue to grow longer. While the Broncos have already begun to make significant changes to their offense for 2018, their top receiver isn’t one.

Thomas isn’t going anywhere.