The Patriots, without a doubt, have made some significant changes to their wide receiver corps this offseason, and more may be on the horizon. The most notable move the team made was, of course, trading for A.J. Brown. They also signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year deal worth up to $80 million to complement the former Eagle.
The depth of the position remains unchanged for now, but that won't be the case for long. Veteran Mack Hollins and sophomores Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III are expected to make the roster, but there are asterisks on two players the team rosters: Kayshon Boutte and Pop Douglas.
Both players are in contract years, and they're each likely to see reduced roles in 2026, particularly Boutte. Considering the crop of exciting UDFAs at the position, New England may look to trade them while they still have value, particularly if either becomes a problem in the locker room.
Of course, a potential trade involving either of the former sixth-round selections puts New England, a contender, in a tough position. On one hand, they'd lose an experienced young player who would help them make a push for a Super Bowl. On the other hand, ridding themselves of a potential locker room problem that could fetch the team a draft selection wouldn't be bad business.
While doing so now may not be logical, a former All-Pro could be a valuable addition to New England's Super Bowl hopefuls.
If the Patriots are interested in Hopkins, they have what he's looking for: a Super Bowl-caliber team. While the former Raven doesn't want to "force" anything, instead believing that being a veteran presence on a contender would be an ideal role.
NFL.com's Nick Shook reported Hopkins said, "I know in my position, I'm a utility guy. I'm a special situation kind of guy. I can go out there and beat anybody one-on-one at any time, but as of lately, I've been a third-down guy."
Hopkins played 20+ snaps in 6/17 games last season, a sharp drop from his 16/19 record in the category in 2024. His drop in snaps also explains his drop in production, however significant.
DeAndre Hopkins could be added if the Patriots make a trade
Given the team's depth at receiver, bringing in Hopkins now would not only be unnecessary but could actually interfere with the chemistry of the room. Adding another big name to the room might be a fun idea, but the team's depth makes it unnecessary as things stand.
Now, should the Patriots agree to ship one of their fourth -year receivers elsewhere, things could change. Some have even predicted that neither Boutte nor Douglas will be with the team in 2026, and if that's the case, then we could see the team look to add a player like Hopkins.
Hopkins is well past his prime, which saw him record 1,000 or more yards in five of his first six seasons. Since 2021, he's eclipsed that benchmark only once (in 2023), and it was with Mike Vrabel's Titans.
Over the last two seasons, he's taken a far more minimal role in his squad's offense. In 2024, he played for both the Titans and Chiefs and totaled just 610 yards and 5 touchdowns from 56 catches. In 2025, he signed with the Ravens and had 22 catches for 330 yards with two touchdowns despite playing all 17 games.
He was third on the team in targets and fourth in receptions in his 13th NFL season.
If the Patriots were to trade Boutte and release Douglas, as some fans have predicted, adding Hopkins could make sense. There's no doubt the Patriots will be gunning for a Super Bowl in 2026, and adding a veteran contributor, especially one with five All-Pros under their belt, certainly wouldn't hurt.
What would DeAndre Hopkins' role look like for the Patriots
The former Clemson Tiger would have a minimal role. A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are the clear starters, meaning they'd be battling with Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism for snaps, while Boutte and Douglas are no longer with the team in this hypothetical.
Last season, Lamar Jackson struggled to stay on the field. He played in 13 games, but in only ten of them did he play 40+ snaps. During those ten games, Hopkins averaged 17.7 yards per game. He averaged 21.9 yards in the other seven games.
Hopkins could operate as a veteran presence and rotational piece to the offense if one or both of Boutte and Douglas are no longer with the team in 2026. The team overextending themselves for him would be foolish given his 2025 production (five games without a catch), but if he can help develop Williams and Chism, it would be a worthwhile addition.
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