National Football League

T.Y. Hilton excited about Bryant, Thomas deals

Published Jul. 16, 2015 1:34 p.m. ET

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas signed nearly identical long-term contracts with their teams on Wednesday, and T.Y. Hilton took note.

Hilton, who is entering a contract year with the Indianapolis Colts, tweeted about the bar being set after Bryant and Thomas signed.

Whose bar?

Hilton, 24, had a breakout season last year with 82 catches, 1,345 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s certainly one of the better receivers in the league, but would anyone place him among the best?

Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star does not expect Hilton to take a hometown discount with the Colts. If that means that the former Florida International star is looking for a deal that approaches the five-year, $70 million contracts that Bryant and Thomas signed, he’s probably not going to get it in Indy.

At 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, Hilton is more of a speedy home-run threat than he is a possession receiver like Bryant or Thomas. While he could look at the $12 million average annual salary that Mike Wallace -- another speedster -- is getting with the Minnesota Vikings, most would argue that Wallace’s contract is evidence of why these types of receivers shouldn’t be paid huge money.

I’m not knocking Hilton. The fact that Bryant and Thomas got $14 million per season and Bryant reportedly got $45 million in guarantees is good for every receiver in the NFL. But while Hilton put together plenty of highlight-reel plays like this last season, he’s not the type of impact receiver that Bryant and Thomas are. That’s not a secret to the Colts or any other team.

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