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What was rumored last night and earlier today has come to pass. Your Houston Texans have acquired Demaryius Thomas from the Denver Broncos.
Terms: The #Texans are trading for #Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas in exchange for a 4th round pick and the teams are also swapping 7th rounders. Big move for Houston.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 30, 2018
Update: Denver traded Demaryius Thomas and a seventh-round pick to Houston for a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick, per source. Trade involved three picks and one player.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 30, 2018
This is a bold move by Brian Gaine and surely one that would not have been pursued had Will Fuller not been lost for the season last Thursday night. Thomas has been very productive throughout his nine-year career despite playing with a rotating cast of quarterbacks and gives Deshaun Watson another legitimate option in the passing game. While he doesn’t have Fuller’s speed, Thomas should keep opposing secondaries honest.
Trading for DT is not about replacing Fuller’s speed. Gives Watson another weapon, and keeps the coverage from rolling to Hopkins. Tailor the offense around that.
— TexansCap (@TexansCap) October 30, 2018
This move also presumably allows Keke Coutee, whenever he gets healthy, to remain in the slot.
Some other reactions to the trade:
Demaryius Thomas is nowhere near the receiver that he used to be, but you could do a lot worse than a 4th round pick for a veteran rental in a banged up WR corps.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) October 30, 2018
At least it's not a first for Amari Cooper, so I'll take it.
Plus Courtland Sutton is a baller, so there's that.
Texans needed reinforcements at WR with Will Fuller season-ending knee injury. Demaryius Thomas is an experienced, big and athletic target, should fit in well opposite DeAndre Hopkins
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 30, 2018
Demaryius Thomas' yards have dropped every year since 2014, so this doesn't exactly shake up the Super Bowl picture, but I'm in favor of anything that will lead to Deshaun Watson flying on aircraft again. Maybe this will help.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) October 30, 2018
Money, age and contract numbers play a part in this, but Courtland Sutton plays a role in this Demaryius Thomas trade as well. The Broncos believe he can be a star and he has shown the ability to make an impact already. Ridiculous athlete and a consistent jump ball winner.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 30, 2018
Note that the Texans are only on the hook for the remaining $4.5 million Thomas is owed for this season; his $14 million salary next year is not guaranteed.
The #Texans will acquire WR Demaryius Thomas with caps of $4.5M in 2018 & a non-guaranteed $14M in 2019 (zero dead cap).
— Spotrac (@spotrac) October 30, 2018
The #Broncos take on dead cap hits of $7.5M in 2018 & $3.5M in 2019. https://t.co/xqlHyMDQoR
You can check out what Broncos fans have to say about Thomas’ departure by clicking here.
With that, the floor is yours. What do you think about the Texans acquiring Thomas? How about Thomas’ first game coming against the very team that traded him?
UPDATE: Thomas will wear C.J. Fiedorowicz’s old number.
Demaryius Thomas is wearing No. 87 for the Texans
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 31, 2018