Patriots-Courtland Sutton speculation: Why this big splash trade makes more sense in New England

When it comes to blockbuster trades or big signings, they usually come out of left field when you think about the New England Patriots.  Maybe it’s just Bill Belichick playing mind games with fans and the media, but rumors seldom play out in Foxborough.

When big stars become available, the Patriots are always in the mix, but never end up being the team to pay the price even when it’s an affordable price.  So now that the DeAndre Hopkins pursuit has ended in him dancing with another team, should the team be in the mix for Courtland Sutton?

While Patriots fans were romancing over a potential trade for Jerry Jeudy prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, the other Denver Broncos wide receiver was also a name out there. 

Could the Patriots make a splash move for Courtland Sutton?

With Belichick’s good buddy Sean Payton coaching and handling personnel, a splash move some trade speculation Bleacher Report is throwing out there.

As B/R writer Maurie Moton writes, Sutton could be the odd man out in Denver and New England would be an ideal destination:

"To be clear, Sutton isn't a disgruntled player. He wants to stay in Denver, but the Broncos selected wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. in the second round of this year's draft and exercised the fifth-year option in Jerry Jeudy's rookie deal. With Tim Patrick back in the fold after missing the 2022 campaign (torn ACL), Mims could replace Sutton in three-wide receiver sets"

- B/R Maurie Moton

It would likely take a second-round pick, but that should be a price Belichick is willing to play for a young talent like Sutton who caught 64 passes in 2022 for 829 yards.  He is not the big name Hopkins is, but a player with upside who would provide a nice target for Mac Jones.

There is also the possibility or even concerns that JuJu-Smith Schuster isn’t 100 percent healthy due to a knee injury from a season ago.  That could make it more likely that the Patriots make some kind of move.  That could still be in free agency, but if Sutton is available, Belichick must make this move even if it involves throwing in a player along with maybe a third-round pick instead.

With Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton, the Patriots are okay at the position, but they are a group of second and third option receivers with two of them injury prone. 

Unless someone like 2023 sixth-round pick Kayson Boutte really emerges in training camp, it feels like the Patriots need a big move at the position and Sutton is a clear possibility.