The New England Patriots completed an unlikely move on Tuesday afternoon by trading five-time Pro-Bowl wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to AFC East division rivals New York Jets. The Thomas trade, in which the Jets will send a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Patriots, means head coach Bill Belichick has finally dealt with every other franchise in the NFL—breaking a long draught with calling up Gang Green.
Sending Thomas to the Jets makes sense, however. With the arrival of superstar wideout Antonio Brown, released by the Oakland Raiders after multiple headaches, quarterback Tom Brady has another top option to throw to, devaluing the necessity for Thomas.
Per Erik Scalavino on Twitter, Belichick trading with the Jets is a first since he took over the Pats in 2000.
Bill Belichick has now made at least one trade with every team in the NFL. The NYJ were the only ones with whom he hadn't dealt since taking over as #Patriots HC in 2000. https://t.co/gFc82EqBHW
— Erik Scalavino (@E_Scal) September 10, 2019
Thomas also played for Jets head coach Adam Gase while the two were with the Denver Broncos. Thomas spent the first nine seasons of his professional career in the Mile High City while Gase, who last coached the Miami Dolphins, another AFC East team, was Denver's wide receivers coach and later offensive coordinator from 2009-14.
Despite the Jets' usual lack of competition—along with the rest of New England's divisional foes—the Patriots felt it was necessary to deal Thomas, a bugaboo of Belichick's given the esteemed coach's track record making trades.
If Week 1 was any accurate representation, the Patriots' wide receivers corps should be in fine shape, especially with the addition of Brown, going forward. Brady threw for 341 passing yards on 24 completions, connecting on three touchdowns against Pittsburgh.
Thomas did not play in the season-opening matchup last weekend.
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