Texans trade for Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas

[Arky]

Link

As the NFL trade deadline ticks down Tuesday afternoon, the Texans have struck a trade for Denver Broncos veteran wide receiver Demaryius Thomas in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.

The AFC teams also exchanged seventh-round draft picks in the deal.

Under NFL rules governing trades, teams had until 3 p.m. to officially complete trades.

Ironically, the Texans play the Broncos on the road on Sunday.

Thomas, 30, will help the Texans replace injured wide receiver Will Fuller. Fuller is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will be placed on injured reserve.

Thomas became expendable with the arrival of rookie wide receiver Courtland Sutton, but he is an accomplished receiver and a big target at 6-3, 229 pounds.

The former first-round draft pick and Super Bowl winner has been named to five Pro Bowls.

Thomas has caught 36 passes for 402 yards and three touchdowns this season.

In nine NFL seasons, Thomas has caught 665 career passes for 9,055 yards and 60 touchdowns.

He's playing under a five-year, $70 million contract with a $4.5 million base salary this season. He's due a nonguaranteed $14 million base salary next year.

More at link...

[Keith]

No idea whether the Texans will find the younger version of Thomas emerging with a QB like Watson throwing to him again, but I will say this: trading for Thomas is a big shift in philosophy for the Texans. The front office is sending a signal to the rest of the players and coaches that they aren't just satisfied to win a weak division and collect a check. They are demonstrating a commitment toward making this season count.

I like the move for this reason alone. The Texans have a unique set of circumstances this season. The defense is relatively healthy, namely Watt and Clowney. Not sure how many more seasons that will happen. They have perhaps the most dynamic WR playing right now. Their QB is young, improving, and cap-cheap. They have ample cap space.

Of course this isn't the first time the Texans made a move for an aging star (debatable how progressively aged Thomas is since he may well have productivity left, though his best years are behind him). But this trade should give the locker room a legit boost of confidence.

[barrett]

I like the trade. If we move past the deadline with street FAs at WR3 (essentially a starting position these days), and a guy who's played 2 career games at #2 then it's as good as saying we're not real interested in winning this year.

Thomas will be an average #2 the rest of the season and has no guaranteed money next year. The cost seems worth it.

[Arky]

I'm going to compare him to AJ since they both have about the same body types.....

AJ was very productive at age 31 and 32 amassing over 3,000 receiving yards in those two years. At age 33, he fell off slightly with 936 yards in 15 games. At age 34 (w/Indianapolis), he dropped to 503 yards. And at age 35 (w/Tennessee), just 85 yards in 4 starts.

Thomas is 31 and has been seeing less targets especially this year with Denver bringing in new blood. He has 402 yards and 3 TDs for the year. Yep, he probably has lost a step and will probably drop a few. But I believe the jump ball in the end zone just got better - he's the big forward who can block out smurfy defenders... Durable, doesn't miss games....

So, if he's like AJ, he should have a couple of good years left....

[Keith]

Thomas has been battling hip issues for awhile. While he claims he is "healthy", maybe he means as healthy as he's gonna get. That makes me wonder whether he will have the same late-career life that Andre Johnson had. I suppose you might say this is me 'doubting Thomas'.

Regardless, I don't really care about anything after this season re: DT anyway. I doubt he's back in 2019 at his current salary, so Thomas just needs to keep his half honest enough to let Hopkins work.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

Thomas has been battling hip issues for awhile. While he claims he is "healthy", maybe he means as healthy as he's gonna get. That makes me wonder whether he will have the same late-career life that Andre Johnson had. I suppose you might say this is me 'doubting Thomas'.

Regardless, I don't really care about anything after this season re: DT anyway. I doubt he's back in 2019 at his current salary, so Thomas just needs to keep his half honest enough to let Hopkins work.

Ya, I heard about the hip issue after I wrote that. Oh well. I think there might be a greater chance that the Texans misuse his skills.... I hope he's good at improv..... When #4 starts scrambling around, I hope he knows how to get open cause he'll surely see some of that...

If I understand it right, I believe the Texans won't have to pay him the $14m due next year unless they want to - or - maybe they can renegotiate friendlier terms....

[barrett]

Nothing is guaranteed next year from us so it's essentially a rental. I suppose he could renegotiate if he loves it here.

He's no AJ and he's never had a game like him. He's never been a great route runner, and his YAC was his best tool when he was great. And he was only truly great with Peyton Manning.

He is the very best option at WR for us at this moment, but he is a step down from Will Fuller. Great deal, but we didn't get a star, we got a #2 WR placeholder who might look better with our better QB.

[nunusguy]

This acquisition seems to signal a new aggressiveness, a new attitude from the Texans but then there's a new sheriff in town with Brian Gaine at the controls isn't there ?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

This acquisition seems to signal a new aggressiveness, a new attitude from the Texans but then there's a new sheriff in town with Brian Gaine at the controls isn't there ?

I agree with you and Keith, I like the new sheriff so far. Where the old sheriff gave lip service to wanting to win, in season they always look internally and on the street. I don't remember them making any moves like this.

Nice breath of fresh air.