Versatility of Julius Thomas Gives Peyton Manning Most Dangerous Weapon in AFC

During the NBC broadcast Sunday night, color analyst Cris Collinsworth noted that it's hard to call Peyton Manning's top target Julius Thomas a tight end, and at this stage in his evolution with the Denver Broncos, he's a wide receiver in all but name.

Thomas was Manning's most reliable and most explosive weapon against the Indianapolis Colts, catching seven passes on eight targets for 104 yards and three consecutive scores that insulated the Broncos' lead over the Colts to 24-0.

At 6'5" and 250 pounds, Thomas creates a matchup nightmare whether against linebackers or cover corners, as he combines the leaping ability of a basketball player with the refined route-running of an outside receiver.

His size (he weighed 215 as a basketball player at Portland State) also contributes to his skill as a pass-blocker; Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him out as the No. 9 tight end in the league in 2013 in pass-blocking. However, the Broncos rarely ask him to line up with his hand in the dirt as a typical tight end would, and with hands like his, why would they?

On Sunday, Thomas proved his breakout 2013 season was no fluke and that he'll continue to be a dangerous weapon for Denver—perhaps the most dangerous pass-catcher in the AFC given his versatility and playmaking ability.

Thomas excels as a deep threat as well as a slot receiver, something few players of his size can tout. In 2013, he posted the third-highest catch rate among tight ends on receptions of 20-plus yards, at 62.5 percent, per Pro Football Focus. He gained 123 yards on such receptions, the eighth-most among tight ends.

But Manning also went to Thomas 29 times in the slot last season, which comprised 31.2 percent of his overall targets. There, he had the second-highest catch rate among all tight ends of 86.2 percent, and though 15 tight ends received more targets in the slot than Thomas, his four touchdowns lined up there were second-most in the league.

	Targets	Receptions	Catch Rate	Yards	TDs
Overall	88	65	73.9%	788	12
Slot	29	25	86.2%	314	4
Deep Passing (20+ yards)	8	5	62.5%	123	2

Thomas' second touchdown against Indianapolis, a 35-yard catch-and-run, was sandwiched between two nearly identical scoring plays. On the first touchdown catch, Manning was in the shotgun and found Thomas on a short three-yard dart to the right.

On the third, once again in the shotgun, Manning connected with Thomas, who was tight against the line, on a short right pass that went for five yards.

Regardless of whether he's lining up on the outside, in the slot or against the line as a tight end, Thomas proved in 2013 that he's dangerous all over the field, and he looks to be even more so in 2014.

Last season, Thomas had 65 receptions for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns. But this year, Thomas told Ross Jones of FoxSports.com that offensive coordinator Adam Gase will use him "a lot more creatively" as he grows more comfortable in the system.

The most promising thing about Thomas comes in remembering that he only played one season of college football, so for all we've already seen from him, there is untapped potential still to come.

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold noted that "the Broncos' coaching staff is interested in elevating Thomas' play a little more" now that he's had a full season healthy in the system.

"Thomas' options as a receiver will only open up when the Broncos can use him more down in tight in the formation, lined up just outside the tackle," Legwold said. "... The more Thomas can function in a variety of roles, the more places the Broncos can put him and the more Thomas can do from an inside position, especially in the play-action passing game when the linebackers are headed toward the line of scrimmage."

Thomas is in the final year of his rookie contract, making $645,000 according to The Denver Post, and is playing for a new deal.

With the seemingly endless possibilities Denver has to fit him into a historically high-scoring offense, Thomas is one player the team should plan to build around for the rest of Manning's career and beyond.