Back-to-back 12-touchdown seasons do not seem to be enough to convince the Denver Broncos that re-signing tight end Julius Thomas is a good idea, and the Jacksonville Jaguars may pounce on the chance to get him.
According to The Denver Post the Broncos are expected to lose out on a number of free agents on both sides of the ball, including Thomas.
"Until the market opens (March 10) and until you get out there and see what's out there, that's what sets the price," said Broncos general manager John Elway. "That's why it's very difficult for them to accept something before free agency starts and very difficult for us. We don't know what the market is."
Elway does not seem particularly concerned with losing one of the NFL's most productive tight ends in the game, because he believes reserve Virgil Green can fill his shoes. "We like Virgil a lot," Elway said. "He is a big part of what we do. He is kind of our rock."
The Jaguars are expected to pursue Thomas heavily, and they have more cap room than any other team in the NFL. The Jags have a talented group of young wide receivers for second-year quarterback Blake Bortles to work with, but he struggled mightily in his first NFL campaign.
Bortles threw 11 touchdowns against 17 interceptions after being taken third overall in the 2014 draft. He made 13 starts. Bortles was also victimized often by a leaky offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 55 times. Young passers often rely on tight ends as safety valves in the passing game, and as long as Thomas is health few players can provide as great an impact.
While battling injuries last season that limited him down the stretch, Thomas still managed 12 touchdowns. In 2013, when he was healthier, Thomas caught 65 balls for 738 yards and also struck paydirt 12 times.
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