The New England Patriots signed a five-time Pro Bowler on Tuesday. But they're not exactly paying him five-time Pro Bowler money.
Demaryius Thomas' one-year contract with the Patriots features a base salary of just over $1 million with a minimal $150,000 signing bonus, ESPN's Field Yates reported Wednesday morning.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Thomas' contract could be worth up to $6 million, which suggests his deal is heavily laden with incentives. Apparently that's the case, as The MMQB's Albert Breer laid out Wednesday.
It's essentially a "prove it" deal for Thomas, who caught a total of 59 passes for 677 yards last season in 15 games between the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. The 31-year-old also tore his Achilles in late December, putting his status for the Patriots' season opener in doubt and making his quest to hit these incentives even more challenging.
For perspective, Thomas' reported $1.2 million base salary is lower than that of Phillip Dorsett and nearly half the $2.05 million Josh Gordon would earn if he returns from suspension. Thomas' reported $2,906,250 cap hit puts him just ahead of special teamer Matthew Slater and behind running back Rex Burkhead on the Patriots' salary cap table.
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In short, the Patriots didn't break the bank to sign Thomas, signing him on a low-risk deal that will benefit both sides if it pans out.
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