Why Demaryius Thomas Won’t Be A Patriot

The former all-pro receiver Demaryius Thomas no doubt adds to a Patriots need. But he is now going on two years separated from his last 1,000-yard campaign. He’s also going on his fourth year with less than 100 receptions in a season. It’s clear that the 31-year-old Thomas is in a bit of a decline. But last season, it became way too real for the veteran receiver. He recorded just 59 catches (lowest total since 2011) on 89 targets (lowest total since 2011) for a very disappointing 677 yards (lowest since you guessed it, 2011) and 5 touchdowns (tied for the lowest total since, yep, 2011). 

Why Wouldn’t Thomas Work Out With The Patriots? 

Prior to his achilles injury, Thomas split last season between the Broncos (8 games) and Texans (7 games). On Denver last season, he had a not-so-good Case Keenum throwing him the football. The Broncos also deployed Emmanuel Sanders as another wideout option. However, Sanders is not a big enough threat for defences to commit solely to him in the passing game. That meant that there was still plenty of attention on Thomas. He finished his time as a Bronco with 36 catches on 56 targets for 402 yards and 3 TDs. Those totals are not bad by any means, but even if his numbers were extrapolated over a 16 game season, he would still have career-lows in yards, catches and targets.

Thomas In Houston

He was granted a huge chance to show that he was still the same receiver that went to the pro bowl just two seasons prior. That chance was playing for the Houston Texans. Deshaun Watson throwing him the football is much more appealing than Keenum. The Texans also have a guy by the name of DeAndre Hopkins, who takes the eyes of the opposing coaches and players away from any other threats the Texans have. He commands attention because he is one of, if not, the best receiver in the NFL. Yet, with the Texans over nearly the same span that he was with the Broncos, he garnered fewer catches (23), fewer targets (33), fewer yards (275) and fewer TDs (2). He did the opposite of proving that he was still the same pro bowl receiver from 2016. 

Now let’s factor in the injury. Any lower-body injury for a receiver or running back is catastrophic. There are very few examples of a player coming off a major lower-body injury over the age of 30 coming back and having the same previous impact.

It hinders a receivers ability to run routes effectively and a running back’s ability to make a cut and change direction effectively. Yes, Thomas was running full-speed with a parachute on his back at training camp a few days ago, showing that he is good-to-go.

But he was running in a straight line. He wasn’t stopping and cutting in a different direction. He wasn’t planting his foot and changing speeds to fool a defender off the line. Quite simply, he showed he can run again, not that he is (or ever will be) 100%. Knowing that he was in full pads for Tuesday’s practice in Foxboro, we will learn over time truly how healthy and regular season-ready he is. 

Other Options For Patriots

Right now, I would say he is fifth on the wide receiver depth chart. With his experience and his resume, he can move up with the smallest improvements. He is behind Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry. Gordon and Harry are both athletic deep threats, similar to Thomas, but are both younger with high upside. Thomas isn’t known as a slot receiver, nor has he played there often, but he would be behind Meyers and Edelman there too. 

Cameron Meredith

Cameron Meredith is a 26-year-old receiver coming off an injury-ravaged season. Playing in 6 and starting 1 game, Meredith caught 9 catches on 10 targets for 114 yards and a TD. If we were to extrapolate those numbers over a full season, he would’ve had 24 catches on 27 targets for 304 yards and 3 TDs. He didn’t have the success that Thomas had, but how about the year prior? Meredith had 66 catches on 97 targets for 888 yards and 4 TDs. That’s the upside he has, and at his age with the right offence, could surpass those marks. 

Meredith would also be more versatile, able to play in the slot or on the outside. He also would not take up a roster spot to begin the season, allowing the Patriots to experiment at another position if needed. To me, Meredith sticking around would be a better safety cushion if Gordon can’t stay clean than Thomas. Not just that, his versatility makes him a better fit in Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels’ offence. 

In Conclusion

Thomas’ lack of versatility, his already apparent decline and coming off of a major lower-body injury at 31 makes him less than intriguing. Not just that, he would be buried behind better options on the outside and, if he even tried to play slot, would be buried on the inside as well. There are just too many red flags to take a risk on Thomas to ultimately be the safety cushion to their risk on Josh Gordon. Cameron Meredith is a much more attractive option for that role.

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