DENVER — Longtime Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has signed with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, the organization confirmed on its website.
The Patriots didn’t announce the terms of the contract, but NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported it was a one-year deal worth up to $6 million.
.@Patriots sign WR Demaryius Thomas (@DemaryiusT) to one-year deal worth up to $6 million. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/Ip7t2h3vVX
— NFL (@NFL) April 16, 2019
Thomas, 31, spent nine seasons with the Broncos before being dealt to the Houston Texans in October for a fourth-round pick. The veteran wideout suffered a torn achilles in December and was released in February.
He joins a Patriots receiving corps that’s pretty sparse behind Julian Edelman, and was only made thinner with the retirement of star tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Thomas will reunite with a familiar face in New England. Josh McDaniels, who coached the Broncos in 2009 and most of the 2010 season, has served as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator since 2012 in his second stint in Foxborough.
Thomas trails only Broncos legend Rod Smith in the franchise's all-time ranks for the receiving yards (9,055) and touchdown catches (60). His 665 catches rank third in team history behind Smith and Shannon Sharpe. Thomas’ thirty-six 100-yard receiving performances are tops in team history.
In February, Thomas was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault after a crash that seriously injured a passenger in his car.
