The Patriots showed on Sunday against the Steelers that they have plenty of depth at wide receiver.
So much so, that they are trading recent free agent signing Demaryius Thomas to the Jets for a 2021 sixth-round pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
More Antonio Brown fallout: Patriots are trading WR Demaryius Thomas in the division to the NY Jets for a 2021 sixth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2019
Thomas did not play in Sunday's 33-3 win against the Steelers, as he has been limited in practice and dealing with a hamstring injury. The Patriots had initially signed him to a one-year, $2.9 million deal in April before releasing and resigning him at the end of the preseason. Thomas tore his Achilles' tendon in December in a game against the Eagles, ending stint with the Texans. He played in seven games for Houston after he was traded by Denver in October.
The trade does not come as much of a surprise, for the Patriots seemed to have an overwhelming array of wide receiver options. New England signed Antonio Brown to a 1-year, $15 million deal after the wide receiver's time in Oakland came to a screeching hault. The Patriots already had Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsett at wide receivers — all of whom had at least 70 receiving yards in the win on Sunday. Tom Brady has also been known to turn his running backs into receiving options, having completed at least five passes each to James White and Rex Burkhead.
Thomas produced a successful stretch in Denver, becoming arguably Peyton Manning's favorite target for the quarterback's tenure there. From 2012-16, Thomas recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in each campaign and hauled in at least 90 catches per year. Since debuting in 2010, Thomas has compiled 688 receptions for 9,330 yards with 62 touchdown receptions.
A former first round pick by the Broncos in 2010, the now-31-year-old Thomas should still be a strong receiving option for second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, who looked much improved in the preseason after a largely disappointing rookie campaign. Thomas should immediately become one of the starters once healthy and join Robby Anderson as one of the young quarterback's top targets in 2019.
