After the Denver Broncos acquired wide receiver Wes Welker from the New England Patriots it was assumed that the door was closed for Brandon Stokley to return. The wide receiver became a free agent in the offseason and was considered an option to return prior to Welker signing. Now as Stokley has yet to find a new team to play for, quarterback Peyton Manning is voicing his support, hoping the Broncos bring him back to Denver.
The free agent market has cooled off as most teams are now setting their sights on the upcoming NFL draft. Manning is hoping that while Denver begins their draft planning, they have not ruled out the option of bringing back Stokley. As the team begins offseason workouts, Manning says he would love to continue playing with Stokely.
"I think it's well documented how I feel about Brandon as a player and a friend, and with the kind of season he had last year, I would still like to play with him. In a perfect world I would love for both of them to be on the team this year...Stokley is a great friend of mine, and as I've said all along, he's always been one of my favorite teammates ever to play with," Manning said.
Stokley played 16 games with the Broncos last season, catching 45 passes and 544 yards and five touchdowns. Manning said that he and Stokley have great chemistry on the field and have built up a great rapport while playing together in both Indianapolis and Denver. The Broncos have added players late in the offseason in the past and Manning is hoping the front office is still considering a return from the wide receiver.
Denver already has Welker, along with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker on the roster. If all three remain healthy, it seems unlikely Stokley will be back. However, the 36-year old was considering retiring so if the Broncos do try and bring him back, they could sign him for a relatively low contract. He has gained a little attention from teams, most recently visiting with the Tennessee Titans, but has yet to be offered a contract.
