If the Broncos' negotiation strategy with Demaryius Thomas was to do whatever the Cowboys did with Dez Bryant, then the strategy worked to perfection on Wednesday. 

Less than 45 minutes after Bryant agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with the Cowboys, Thomas agreed to an almost identical deal with the Broncos. 

The only difference in the two deal is the amount of guaranteed money. According to ESPN.com, Thomas' new contract includes $43.75 million in guarantees. That's just a nudge below Bryant, who's set to make $45 million in guaranteed money under his new deal. 

The Broncos had until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday to get a deal done with Thomas and the team used almost every minute available. Denver didn't officially announce the deal until 3:55 p.m. ET, just five minutes before the deadline each team has to reach a long term deal with any franchise player. 

The new deal means that Thomas won't be sitting out during the preseason, something he had threatened to do if the Broncos didn't sign him to a new contract. 

If the Broncos hadn't signed Thomas to a new deal, the wide receiver would've been forced to play the 2015 season under the one-year franchise tender that would've have paid him $12.8 million. That's won't be happening though, instead, Thomas will average $1.2 million more than that over the lifetime of his new deal. 

Here are three things to know about Thomas' new five-year deal. 

1. Demaryius got paid. Thomas didn't exactly get the Calvin Johnson money he wanted, but the Broncos did give him Dez Bryant money.

Thomas and Bryant are now both making an average of $14 million per year, which is the second-highest total for a receiver in the NFL, trailing only Johnson, who's pulling in an average of $16.2 million per year.

Of Thomas' $70 million, ESPN.com has reported that $43.5 million was fully guaranteed at signing. That number puts Thomas slightly behind Bryant -- who's getting $45 million in guarantees -- and Johnson, who made $43.75 million in guaranteed money when he signed his new deal in 2012.

2. Broncos avoid upsetting Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning is a man of habit and one of those habits involves running offensive plays until he knows exactly what every player at every position is doing. 

Another habit involves getting his timing down with his receivers, something Manning hasn't been able to do with Thomas because the receiver skipped all of Denver's OTAs as he continued to negotiate a long term deal with the team.

Manning might not have cared about Thomas' absence if it happened last year, but it was a big deal this year because the Broncos quarterback was trying learn the offense that was being installed by new coach Gary Kubiak.

Manning was upset that the two sides didn't reach a deal earlier this offseason and that probably has to do with the fact that Manning took a pay cut to free up money for the Broncos to negotiate with Thomas.

Although Manning was upset, he'll probably have a big smile on his face when training camp starts, knowing that he's going to have his No. 1 receiver for the entire preseason.   

3. Broncos keep their playmaker. The reason Manning wanted Thomas in OTAs so bad is because Thomas has been Manning's biggest weapon since the Broncos quarterback signed with Denver in 2012. 

Thomas has the most 100-yard games in the NFL since 2012 with 25, which is two more than second place Calvin Johnson and six more than third place T.Y. Hilton. Thomas is also one of only two receivers, along with Johnson, to put up over 4,000 receiving yards since 2012. Thomas has 4,483 while Johnson has 4,533.

In only five seasons with the Broncos, Thomas has vaulted up to No. 9 on the team's all-time receiving list. If Thomas hits 1,400 yards in 2015, something he's done in each of the past three seasons, he'd vault up to fourth on the Broncos all-time list. 

Demaryius Thomas is getting paid. (USATSI)
Demaryius Thomas is getting paid. (USATSI)