Musket Fire
FanSided

DeAndre Hopkins development makes Patriots trade possible

By Jared Koch

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans and DeAndre Hopkins #10 talk during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans and DeAndre Hopkins #10 talk during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s no secret that the Patriots lack offensive firepower compared to the rest of the league.

The Patriots’ leading receiver this past season, Jakobi Meyers, ranked 37th in the league in receiving yards. Unfortunately, that type of production from an offense’s number-one receiver probably isn’t enough to warrant contender status in the league today.

Following this past month of championship games, and honestly, throughout the past few years, it’s been made clear that in order to make it far in the post-season, you either need a top talent at quarterback or around a top-20 receiver.

For example, this season, the league had three of the top talents at quarterback in their championship games, along with top pass catchers such as JaMarr Chase, A.J. Brown, and Deebo Samuel (you could even argue DeVonta Smith and Tee Higgins as top-20 receivers, but that’s up for debate).

Mac Jones seems to be the prospective starting quarterback in New England for at least one more season. Therefore, if the Patriots want to get serious about competing for a title, they need to acquire a top pass catcher on the market.

A top potential option that has surfaced around the market: DeAndre Hopkins.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 12: Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals after a reception against the New England Patriots during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 27-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 12: Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals after a reception against the New England Patriots during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 27-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

There have already been rumblings of Hopkins getting shipped to New England for the past few months. Speculations have been running wild since Hopkins and Belichick’s conversation in the Patriots’ game this past season vs. the Cardinals.

The Cardinals have been speculated to move on from Hopkins due to his large cap hit this next season, along with the Cardinals looking to rebuild. However, new information that could make a Hopkins trade this offseason almost inevitable has surfaced.

CBS Sports has reported that due to Hopkins’ PED suspension this past season, his no-trade clause is no longer in effect:

"As CBS Sports contributor and former NFL agent Joel Corry notes, the no-trade clause in Hopkins’ contract was voided after the wide receiver was suspended by the NFL last May for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Now, Hopkins has significantly less leverage on where he’d be traded to next, which creates more flexibility for Arizona to get the most assets back possible if the franchise wants to move him.– Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports"

It seems as if Hopkins may have played his last game in a Cardinals uniform, and if this is the case, the Patriots need to jump on this opportunity. 

The Patriots have the draft capital and assets in order to make a trade like this possible, and with Hopkins entering his age-31 season on the last year of his deal, his value on the trade market could be low compared to what his production could be in Bill O’Brien’s new offense.

Home/Patriots News