<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Colts WR T.Y. Hilton noticed Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas' new contracts

          T.Y. Hilton will be playing in the final year of his rookie contract this season. Joe Robbins/Getty Images

          INDIANAPOLIS -- There was definitely at least one person inside the Indianapolis Colts organization who was paying attention to the type of money Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant and Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas got Wednesday.

          The main person with eyes on the deal inside the Colts is receiver T.Y. Hilton -- who stands 5-foot-9 and goes by the nickname of the "Ghost" because it's tough for defenses to find him on the field.

          Bryant and the Cowboys beat the deadline and agreed to a five-year deal worth $70 million, which includes $32 million guaranteed. Thomas and the Broncos also agreed to a five-year deal worth $70 million, which includes $43.5 million guaranteed. Thomas and Bryant were both franchise-tag players.

          So why wouldn't Hilton pay attention to what's going on with players getting paid that play the same position as him?

          Hilton is headed into the final year of his rookie contract and there hasn't been any indication that an extension will get done anytime soon.

          "Right now we're focused on 2015," general manager Ryan Grigson said last month during the team's minicamp. "That's what we're focused on, keeping our main focus on the field right now."

          Owner Jim Irsay did say last month that they want to keep Hilton long term. But like most things, it'll come down to money.

          And Hilton -- based off his tweet Wednesday -- wants to get paid. The receiver switched to agent Drew Rosenhaus earlier in the offseason.

          Hilton, who is coming off a career-high 1,345 yards and his first Pro Bowl appearance, isn't currently in the same receiving class as players like Bryant, Thomas, Calvin Johnson or even Julio Jones, but he's bound to get a nice payday in his next contract.

          How much Hilton will get from the Colts or another team, though, is anybody's guess. You can't forget that the Colts selected receiver Phillip Dorsett in the first round of this year's draft.

          The Colts are in a tricky financial position because not only is Hilton about to enter the final year of his contract, but so are tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener and left tackle Anthony Castonzo. Quarterback Andrew Luck will likely get a new contract at some point in 2016.

          Time will tell Hilton's financial value.