Following Quincy Enunwa’s season-ending neck injury, the Jets made a surprise trade with the Patriots and acquired WR Demaryius Thomas.
With the Jets desperate for a wide receiver, their new regime broke a long-standing tradition of not trading with New England. New York acquired Thomas in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round pick.
Bill Belichick had no qualms trading within the division after the Patriots signed Antonio Brown. In addition to landing a pick, New England also cleared $2.8 million in cap space.
Now, Thomas will count for $2.8 million against the Jets’ cap, which includes a $93,375 roster bonus for each week he’s on the 46-man roster, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Thomas is questionable to suit up for his first game with the Jets on Monday Night Football, as he is battling a hamstring injury.
The Jets, who had $100 million in cap space this past offseason, are now down to $6.1 million, per Over The Cap.
If healthy, Thomas gives the gets a proven contributor. He is just nine months removed from a torn Achilles but still managed to look sharp in the Patriots’ preseason finale. He caught seven passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants’ backups. He was inactive for the Pats’ Week 1 opener.
With Enunwa out for the season and Sam Darnold out indefinitely, the Jets are hoping that Thomas’ prior connections with Adam Gase and Trevor Siemian can help get the offense going.
