What would a blockbuster receiver trade look like for the Patriots?
If the New England Patriots do make a major move for a wide receiver this offseason, what would that trade look like for the team? I fully endorse the team spending draft capital to find a wide receiver this offseason.
However, I do not endorse them spending too much in a trade nor do I endorse them trading for the wrong player.
Well, there does appear to be come candidates that could come over in a potential trade if the Patriots were willing. We’ll see if these players hit the market, but if they do, I’d expect New England to be heavily involved.
What would a blockbuster receiver trade look like for the Patriots?
We’ve written a good bit about potential wide receivers that the team could target.
The three most common names that we’ve written about include DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, and Brandin Cooks.
Hopkins and Cooks do have connections with now Patriots’ OC Bill O’Brien, but I do wonder how the relationships are between the three parties.
Mike Evans is a veteran receiver who has had at least 1,000 yards in every season of his career and is now on a Bucs team that is tens of millions over the cap and perhaps in a transitional period.
How much would each cost in a trade?
Well, these would all be my absolute best guesses here.
I think Mike Evans likely costs the most, as he’s been the more consistent receiver of the three and is younger than DeAndre Hopkins, who has struggled to stay on the field in recent years.
My best guess for potential draft compensation in a trade would be a second round pick.
Given that Evans is approaching his age-30 season and is in the last year of his contract which carries a cap hit of over $20 million, I don’t think a first round pick is in the question at all, BUT, at the same time, I could see a team coughing up a first to acquire the future Hall of Famer. I do wonder if it could even cost less to get Evans, but if the Bucs were to entertain offers, I don’t think they’d feel comfortable with getting less than a second, in my opinion.
How much would Brandin Cooks cost? He’s under contract for two more seasons, is set to enter his age-30 season and his contract does have cap hits of over $20 million in each of his remaining seasons on the deal.
I do think in order to facilitate a trade, some type of contract restructure would have to be agreed upon, and seeing as Cooks has been traded multiple times during his career, I’m not sure his value is super high at this point.
My best guess for potential draft compensation in a trade would be a fourth round pick.
Cooks has said he does not want to be a part of rebuild, and that is exactly where the Texans are at. Perhaps a team would be willing to give up a third round pick for him, but I think the Patriots could stomach trading a fourth rounder to acquire the player who has been a Patriot before and has played alongside Bill O’Brien.
How much would DeAndre Hopkins cost in a trade?
I don’t think the Cardinals would be able to get a first round pick in a deal for Hopkins. He turns 30 soon and his cap hits with the remaining two years on his deal are both over $25 million. Hopkins’ might not have that type of value anymore.
He’s played in just 19 games in the last two seasons due to injury and being suspended, so he’s not the 27 year old elite player he once was, but it’s still DeAndre Hopkins.
Like Mike Evans,
My best guess for potential draft compensation in a trade would be a second round pick.
I think a second rounder gets its done to get Hopkins. He’s a Hall of Fame player and did average seven catches and nearly 80 yards per game in 2022, which are insane and productive numbers.
Aside from the last two years and inconsistently being on the field, Hopkins really does not miss game action at all, so if the Patriots would trade for Hopkins, there is a chance that they could get his old, durable self.