Similar deals, similar players.
Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas have agreed to five-year contracts worth a reported $70 million. The contracts aren’t the only thing these two -- both of them first-round picks in 2010 and both of whom wear number 88 -- have in common.
Bryant and Thomas are the only players in the NFL coming off three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
Bryant has 41 receiving touchdowns the past three seasons, the most in the NFL. Thomas is tied for second in that time (with Jimmy Graham) with 35.
Wednesday’s contracts make Bryant and Thomas
two of the three highest-paid receivers in the NFL in terms of total value, average value and guaranteed money, with Calvin Johnson.
These contracts should set the table for other wide receivers in the final year of their contracts, such as A.J. Green and Julio Jones.
Green ranks sixth in the NFL in receiving yards in the past three seasons, and Jones ranks 10th.
Spendy day
According to reports, Bryant’s deal included $45 million guaranteed, and Thomas’ had $43.5 million.
In addition to those two players, Justin Houston (a reported $52.5 million guaranteed) re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, making it $141 million that was committed in guaranteed money Wednesday.
Outside of March (when the NFL league year begins), that's the most guaranteed money handed out on one day in the past four offseasons.
Before Wednesday, the July day since 2012 with the most guaranteed money being committed was July 26, 2013, when Matt Ryan and Eric Fisher were among four players who got a combined $89.6 million guaranteed.
