The New England Patriots were extremely thin at the wide receiver position when they signed Demaryius Thomas over a month ago, but suddenly the veteran does not appear like a lock to be on the team come Week 1.
Since they agreed to a deal with Thomas on April 16, the Patriots have drafted former Arizona State star wideout N’Keal Harry in the first round and also added veteran receiver Dontrelle Inman. Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston recently released his latest 53-man roster projection, and he anticipates Thomas getting cut.
Julian Edelman, Harry and longtime special teams captain Matthew Slater are locks to make the roster. That likely leaves three available spots if the Patriots carry three receivers, and Perry is predicting they will go to Inman, 2018 sixth-round pick Braxton Berrios and Phillip Dorsett, who is entering his third season with New England.
Thomas, 31, had 59 catches for 677 yards and five touchdowns last season. He appeared to be on the verge of regaining his old form following a trade to the Houston Texans, but he tore his Achilles late in the season. He also got into some trouble off the field recently, so the odds may have been stacked against him from the start.
