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Ranking the top 5 WRs to play with Peyton Manning

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: (L-R) Brandon Stokley #14 and Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos walk on the field during warm ups against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: (L-R) Brandon Stokley #14 and Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos walk on the field during warm ups against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 12: (L-R) Brandon Stokley #14 and Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos walk on the field during warm ups against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 12: (L-R) Brandon Stokley #14 and Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos walk on the field during warm ups against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

5. Brandon Stokley, Colts/Broncos

Of all the wide receivers to play with Peyton Manning, only one player got to play with him on both of his NFL teams — Brandon Stokley.

Stokley played the first four years of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Colts, where he really became a household name out of the slot.

He played just six games in his first season with the Colts, but played in all 16 his second season and was wildly productive in one of the best Colts offenses we’ve seen. In 2004, he caught 68 passes for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns, easily the best statistical season of his NFL career.

Stokley caught 139 passes while he was a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and had 15 touchdowns in that timeframe.

After four seasons making a name for himself with the Colts, Stokley had three really productive seasons with the Denver Broncos as a slot receiver, but it seemed his career was over after short stints with both the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants in 2010 and 2011.

At the age of 36, Stokley was an afterthought in NFL circles, but not to Peyton Manning. Manning, who has always done an incredible job of maintaining relationships around the league, took to throwing with his old Indianapolis pal in Durham, NC, where Manning was working out and contemplating his massive free agency decision.

As Manning rehabbed from his neck injury, it was Stokley who would catch passes from him and he only did so after cancelling a 10-year anniversary trip that year to be with the future Hall of Fame QB.

When Manning decided to sign with the Broncos, he showed off some of his pro scouting abilities and brought Stokley along with him.

Both Manning and Stokley found the fountain of youth.

Stokley, 36 at the time, caught 45 passes for 544 yards and five touchdowns, numbers that matched some of his best years with the Broncos five years earlier.

It wasn’t just that he was being force-fed the ball, either. Stokley was truly a weapon for one of the best offenses in the NFL that year.

This guy is not only one of the best to play with Manning, he’s one of Manning’s most trusted guys.

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