Patriots: Is latest on DeAndre Hopkins good news for potential addition?
It sounds like trade talks involving All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins are not going well for the Arizona Cardinals. Some teams believe the Cardinals will ultimately release Hopkins, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said on the “Greg Bedard Podcast,” after Arizona initially was asking for more than a second-round pick for the 31-year-old wide receiver. A […]
It sounds like trade talks involving All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins are not going well for the Arizona Cardinals.
Some teams believe the Cardinals will ultimately release Hopkins, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said on the “Greg Bedard Podcast,” after Arizona initially was asking for more than a second-round pick for the 31-year-old wide receiver.
A source described a scenario where the New England Patriots trade for Hopkins as “doubtful” last month. Perhaps that could change if Hopkins truly is cut, however.
“I think for a team like the Patriots, it would either be no draft-pick compensation or way, way, way down from Arizona’s initial ask, and an adjustment to the contract,” Breer said, via NESN.com. “And that obviously gives Hopkins considerable control over the situation, because if you’re going to change the contract, then you have to go to him.
“So I think this is a really, really complicated one, and (the Patriots) haven’t shown great interest. They haven’t really been in it to this point. Like, if his market collapsed completely and he was cut or he was available for almost nothing and is willing to redo his contract, maybe we’re talking about something else.”
Hopkins is due a $19.45 million salary in 2023, and New England, who could use one more top-tier wide receiver, has less than $13 million in cap space, so something would have to be done with the receiver's contract to make it work.
There was a report last week that new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien would be an impediment to New England landing Hopkins. O’Brien worked with Hopkins on the Houston Texans from 2014 until he traded the wideout to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.
Breer wasn’t buying that as an issue, however.
"I don't think that would be a problem," Breer said.
The Cardinals have less than a month to trade Hopkins before the 2023 NFL Draft. If the Patriots can acquire the five-time Pro Bowl selection at a value, then it’s possible that a deal could still get done. But don’t expect them to pay Hopkins his current salary while giving the Cardinals their asking price.
Featured image via Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
