It’s been 18 months since the Denver Broncos traded Demaryius Thomas to the Houston Texans, and with the veteran wide receiver now a free agent, it’s time to bring DT home.
It’s a sentiment shared by Thomas who, on an interview with 104.3 The Fan last week, posited the idea of returning to Denver, saying that “I want to be part of something that I can help win because I know I can still play ball. I still got good ball in me.
“It would be great. I would finish there (Denver) if I came back. I wouldn’t go nowhere else.”
For one of the two greatest receivers in Broncos history, it would be the perfect ending to his career if he returned to Denver and contributed to the start of what appears to be a new era with Drew Lock under centre.
And for a new era, the Broncos need experienced leaders and teachers to help bring the next generation along, and hopefully spark the start of successful period in Denver.
As it stands, the Broncos offense appears to be lacking in that department. Drew Lock has some talented but inexperienced pass-catching weapons in Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, Daesean Hamilton and Tim Patrick. And this weekend the receiver room could get even younger should the Broncos draft a wide-out, which appears increasingly likely as we head towards Thursday.
None of the receivers currently on the Broncos’ roster have played more than two years in the NFL, and following the trade of Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, the young group could do with an experienced head in the room.
Bringing in Thomas would provide the perfect experienced head. Whilst Sanders and Sutton had their issues at times over who was the number one, that wouldn’t be the case with the future Ring of Famer, who has already been speaking with the Broncos’ leading receiver from 2019.
The four-time Pro Bowler explained his conversations with Sutton in his appearance on 104.3 The Fan, as he said: “I was talking to Courtland about it the other day and I was telling him, ‘I’m not coming to try to be no Number 1 or whatever. I ain’t trying to be that. I’m just trying to be a part of something I can help win. I ain’t trying to be no big shot.’”
It is also important to remember that Thomas is no scrub, and he can certainly still contribute to this Broncos offense.
In 10 games with the New York Jets last year he had 433 receiving yards, which is more than both Hamilton and Patrick, albeit the latter also missed games. Thomas would represent a useful weapon for Lock as the third or fourth receiver behind Sutton and anyone the Broncos could add this weekend.
Sitting just 237 receiving yards off 10,000 for his career, it would be a perfect ending, and no less than he deserves, for one of the Broncos’ all-time greats to come home and retire a Bronco after passing 10,000 career receiving yards.
Elway, it’s time to make the call.