[Rain Man]

Julius Thomas' stats:

JThomas' one year before Manning arrived:

1 receptions for 5 yards

JThomas' two years after Manning arrived:

0 receptions for 0 yards (Appeared in only four games)
65 receptions for 788 yards

Eric Decker's stats:

Decker's two years before Manning arrived:

6 receptions for 106 yards
44 receptions for 612 yards

Decker's two years after Manning arrived:

85 receptions for 1,064 yards
87 receptions for 1,288 yards


Seriously, teams should not draft anybody but quarterbacks any more. Draft QBs with your top three picks every year until you find one that works. At that point you can plug in 3rd round receivers and 7th round tight ends all day and they'll be pro bowlers.

And I should note that I'm not trashing the Broncos with this. This is true throughout the league. If you get Aaron Rodgers, every receiver on his team becomes a star. Tom Brady's team made it to the AFC Championship using a high school contingent of receivers. A good quarterback converts everyone on the team into a pro bowler in the modern system.