Should the Patriots make splash signing to add DeAndre Hopkins?
Last Friday the Arizona Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins after months of rumors surrounding his future with the team at the center of trade talks. The Cardinals could not find a trade partner for the soon-to-be 31-year-old wide receiver due to his large salary. If traded, he would have cost the team acquiring him $19.45M for […]
Last Friday the Arizona Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins after months of rumors surrounding his future with the team at the center of trade talks.
The Cardinals could not find a trade partner for the soon-to-be 31-year-old wide receiver due to his large salary. If traded, he would have cost the team acquiring him $19.45M for 2023.
Hopkins is coming off a season when he was suspended for the first eight games due to violating the league's performing enhancing drug policy. Hopkins returned and was quickly back to his former self finishing 10th in the NFL in yards per game amongst all wide receivers.
Hopkins caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns in the 9-games following his return from suspension. That is a 17-game pace of 121 receptions for 1,354 yards and six touchdowns. Hopkins was still great despite being in a struggling offense, as he averaged 1.98 yards per route run, an efficiency metric from PFF. That ranked 18th out of 90 eligible wide receivers (minimum 50 targets).
For reference, the only wide receivers on the Patriots in 2022 who met the criteria of 50 targets were Jakobi Meyers (25th/80 in yards per route run), Juju Smith-Schuster (31st/80th) and Nelson Agholor (65th/80).
Those numbers included the two games Hopkins appeared in after Kyler Murray went down with a torn ACL. In the final game of the season, Hopkins received ten targets from the Cardinals' backup QB and only caught one pass for 4 yards. Hopkins was even better than the numbers already suggest.
The question is whether or not New England would value Hopkins' skillset at this point. They have a similar style of player in DeVante Parker, a guy who doesn't win with pure athleticism but rather physicality. Hopkins offers more high-end talent than Parker and he is a far more nuanced route runner, but Parker already has a level of continuity with quarterback Mac Jones and a familiarity with the team for what is likely a cheaper contract than DeAndre Hopkins will receive.
It is possible the Patriots will view it as both players can mutually benefit each other, though. Parker has a lengthy injury history and Hopkins is 31 years old next week. Maybe a snap share could help maximize both players.
There is no doubt that Hopkins would be the highest pedigree wide receiver in New England since Randy Moss. That sounds like a stretch with guys like Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Brandin Cooks and Josh Gordon all having been Patriots since the infamous 2007 season, but Hopkins would be the only Patriots wide receiver since Moss who has had multiple 1,400-yard seasons.
New England currently has $13,062,568 in available cap space, via Miguel Benzan (@patscap). Hopkins' value is going to be the key component for the Patriots. If the All-Pro wideout is willing to take a more team-friendly deal, that will increase the odds of Hopkins ending up in New England.
The Patriots can get creative to afford Hopkins. I could see New England buying in if they can get him in the $15M-$17M per-season range. My gut tells me they wouldn't spend above that, though.
There is no clear indication that Hopkins would have any interest in coming to New England either. Hopkins has made a criteria list of what he is looking for in his next team:
- A QB who loves football
- Stable management
- Great defense
The Patriots do meet that criteria list, but if a team with a higher chance of winning a championship comes knocking on Hopkins' door, he may not even consider the Patriots.
