



Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is due for a big pay day. If he doesn't get a new deal from the Denver Broncos soon, he'll most likely get one on the open market next spring.

ESPN's John Clayton ranked next year's top 25 NFL free agents on Friday, and Sanders came in at No. 15 on his list. Alshon Jeffery of the Chicago Bears (No. 10) and Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals (No. 14) were the only wide receivers ranked ahead of him.

"The Broncos struck long-term deals with linebackers Von Miller and Brandon Marshall, but recent deals signed by Keenan Allen and Doug Baldwin have made the price of receivers jump, which will play into Sanders' negotiations," Clayton wrote in his analysis.

Sanders and the Broncos have engaged in contract negotiations this offseason, but they were put on hold when the team made the final push to sign Miller earlier this month. Now that Miller is under contract, the primary focus should be hammering out the details of an extension for Sanders.