The Demaryius Thomas trade executed by the New England Patriots helped Bill Belichick accomplish something very rare.
The Patriots on Tuesday agreed to trade Thomas to the New York Jets for a 2021 sixth-round pick. New England found Thomas expendable since they signed Antonio Brown on Saturday, a move Belichick compared to the acquisition of Randy Moss.
The real telling aspect of the trade is to whom Thomas was dealt: the Jets. The deal marked the first time Belichick traded with the Jets, meaning he has now made at least one trade with every team in the NFL since taking over as Patriots head coach.
Bill Belichick has now made at least one trade with every team in the NFL. The NYJ were the only ones with whom he hadn't dealt since taking over as #Patriots HC in 2000. https://t.co/gFc82EqBHW
— Erik Scalavino (@E_Scal) September 10, 2019
Another kicker here is the last time the two teams traded, it was the Patriots acquiring Belichick from the Jets for a first-round pick (yes, New England traded for the coach).
Teams are often wary about trading a player to a division rival since you then would have to face the player two times per season. If Belichick is so unconcerned about trading Thomas to the Jets, it’s a bad sign about the receiver’s ability as he returns from a torn Achilles tendon.
