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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 – DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos warm up before a game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 28, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos warm up before a game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 28, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

3. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos

After starting off his career catching passes from Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, Demaryius Thomas will have spent the best years of his NFL career catching passes from Peyton Manning and the end of his career catching passes from Tom Brady.

I suppose that’s poetic justice, right?

Thomas was the alpha in the Broncos’ offense when Peyton Manning took over. He might be the most physically gifted receiver ever to play for Manning.

At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Thomas is built like a linebacker and runs a sub-4.4.

Or, at least, he once did.

Manning stated at his retirement press conference that one of the things he would miss most about the game is DT running up to him after every touchdown and telling him he loved him while also thanking him for coming to Denver.

Well, if he did that after every touchdown from 2012-2015, Thomas thanked Manning for coming to Denver (excluding Brock Osweiler’s starts) 42 times, including playoff games.

Manning to Thomas is one of the best quarterback/receiver duos in Broncos history, and quite possibly league history. These two had a chemistry unlike most quarterback/receiver duos in the NFL and it resulted in the Broncos ultimately winning two AFC titles and one Super Bowl title.

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