The best tight end on the NFL free agent market is headed eastward.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Julius Thomas will be leaving Denver to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Denver Post is reporting that his new contract will be in the neighborhood of $9 million per year. Needless to say, he will be getting a massive pay raise over his initial four-year rookie contract that paid him $741,000 in its final year of 2014.
https://twitter.com/DraftScout247/status/575101946190786561
The 26-year-old Thomas has really blossomed since catching two touchdown passes from Peyton Manning against the Baltimore Ravens in the first game of the 2013 NFL season. He would follow that up with a strong season and finish 2013 with 65 receptions for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 43 receptions for 489 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Thomas was named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons. He is also the first tight end in NFL history to have back-to-back seasons with at least 12 touchdowns. At 6’5″ and 250 lbs, Thomas has proven to be able to use his size to be an effective red-zone target.
Thomas didn’t play a lot in his first two seasons after being a fourth-round pick out of Portland State in the 2011 NFL draft. The Stockton, California native suited up for just nine games and had just one reception during his first two years in the league, while he battled through various injuries.
Much has been made of the fact that he didn’t begin playing football until his senior season. In fact, he played basketball all four years in college, participating in two NCAA Tournaments for the Vikings. He was named to the All-Big Sky Conference Tournament team on two separate occasions.
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Main Photo:
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 05: Tight end Julius Thomas #80 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after scoring on quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos 500th career touchdown pass to take a 7-3 lead over the Arizona Cardinals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 5, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 41-20. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
