Patriots: Can DeVante Parker and DeAndre Hopkins Fit in the Same Offense?
This past week, the New England Patriots modified DeVante Parker's contract, adding two more years and increasing his financial compensation for the upcoming season. When news of Parker's contract restructuring broke, many fans initially interpreted it as a sign that the Patriots were no longer pursuing DeAndre Hopkins. This reaction stemmed from the prevailing belief […]
This past week, the New England Patriots modified DeVante Parker's contract, adding two more years and increasing his financial compensation for the upcoming season. When news of Parker's contract restructuring broke, many fans initially interpreted it as a sign that the Patriots were no longer pursuing DeAndre Hopkins. This reaction stemmed from the prevailing belief that if the team were to sign Hopkins, Parker might be the player left without a role on the team.
Contrary to the concern, multiple reports suggest that this is not the situation, and the deal actually resulted in the team creating additional salary cap space. Although the specific financial details of the contract have not been disclosed yet, it is confirmed by Ian Rapoport that the restructuring has not diminished any positive outlook regarding the potential signing of Hopkins.
The concern about a potential redundancy of having Parker and Hopkins on the same roster arises from their similar positions as primarily outside wide receivers.
Snaps Outside:
DeVante Parker: 91.4%
DeAndre Hopkins: 72.7%
While both Parker and Hopkins have predominantly played as outside receivers, there are strategies to effectively utilize both players on the field. One potential approach is to increase how much Hopkins lines up in the Slot or Z, which would capitalize on his talent still. Additionally, the offense could incorporate more formations that feature two outside wide receivers, enabling both players to be on the field simultaneously.
An important point to consider is the prior experience between Bill O'Brien and DeAndre Hopkins. In 2019, Hopkins demonstrated his versatility by taking 37.5% of his snaps from the slot, which marked the highest slot snap percentage of his career for a single season. Despite sharing the outside receiver role with Will Fuller, Hopkins still accumulated impressive numbers, recording 1,373 receiving yards in 17 games (including the postseason, while missing one regular season game). While Fuller had a higher percentage of snaps from the outside, Hopkins had a greater total number of snaps outside. This previous collaboration suggests that O'Brien and Hopkins have successfully found ways to maximize his impact with another outside wide receiver who predominantly plays outside.
2019 Houston Texans Snap Breakdown:
| Players | Outside Snap Percentage | Total Outside Snaps | Slot Snap Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
DeAndre Hopkins | 62.3% | 452 | 37.5% |
Will Fuller | 68.3% | 280 | 31.7% |
Fuller's season was cut short too, as he only played 12 games versus Hopkins's 17.
Furthermore, Parker's most successful season, in terms of performance, occurred in 2019, which interestingly corresponds with his highest slot snap percentage. During that season, Parker took 23.0% of his snaps from the slot and achieved impressive numbers, amassing over 1,200 yards receiving and scoring nine touchdowns. Conversely, in his recent season with the Patriots, Parker took 91.4% of his snaps outside, the highest of his career. This can be attributed to the lack of another formidable outside threat on the New England roster.
It is plausible to speculate that Bill O'Brien might adopt a similar approach to the 2019 Houston Texans, where both DeVante Parker and DeAndre Hopkins could both be moved inside and outside, similar to the dynamic between Fuller and Hopkins at that time. This strategy proved successful, as the duo averaged 144 yards per game collectively. It's worth noting that Hopkins excelled not only in the slot but also ranked third in the NFL in yards per route run from the slot, showcasing he can also be elite lined up anywhere.
O'Brien's coaching approach could potentially maximize the productivity of not only Parker and Hopkins but also JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has showcased versatility in lining up at various positions in the past. By utilizing their individual strengths and incorporating them into different alignments, O'Brien could create opportunities for all three receivers to thrive in the offense. Smith-Schuster's previous success in adapting to different roles adds another dynamic element to the team's receiving corps.
Another advantage of having two capable outside threats is that it allows the team to rotate them, providing rest periods and maximizing their overall health and freshness. After all, Hopkins is 31 years old, while Parker is 30 and has experienced injury concerns. Therefore, managing their playing time strategically could help maintain their performance levels and mitigate potential health issues.
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
