They re-signed him you nitwit! In fact, it’s unlikely he would have even gotten the same amount from another team, but the Pats gave him a beyond fair contract in order to not screw him over, followed by a willingness to trade with the Jets for the first time in 20 years, again out of goodwill to DT. Meyers and Dorsett and made Thomas expendable, and Harry was their choice for an insurance policy/potential late season addition.
Brown has zero to do with DT. They are totally different players.