Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is likely going to be playing with a new franchise in 2023. It was reported a few weeks ago that the Arizona Cardinals were looking to trade him this offseason as they begin a reset in their franchise.
There should be no shortage of suitors for DeAndre Hopkins as he remains one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The only real knock against him is that he has struggled to stay on the field in recent seasons. He appeared in only 19 games in 2021 and 2022 because of injuries and a suspension.
Alas, when DeAndre Hopkins can get on the field, he remains a force. In only nine games this past season he caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns. That kind of production is something plenty of teams would love to add to their offense this offseason.
One team who could show some interest in acquiring him is the New England Patriots. Head coach Bill Belichick is a fan of his and the team is in need of some help at the wide receiver position this offseason.
Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor are both set to hit free agency in a few weeks. Kendrick Bourne was involved in trade rumors ahead of the deadline while DeVante Parker had an up-and-down season and is now 30 years old. Acquiring DeAndre Hopkins would go against a lot of the principles the Patriots have followed in recent years, but he could be worth the price.
Figuring out compensation for him would be the first task. The Cardinals were able to get him for cheap from the Houston Texans in 2020 and will likely be looking for a similar deal; a first-round pick is something they would probably seek.
Last offseason, the Patriots surrendered a third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins as part of the deal for DeVante Parker. It will cost more than that for DeAndre Hopkins, as the Patriots could offer a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
New England will withhold a first-round pick because they know that they will have to sign DeAndre Hopkins to a new contract. He has two years and $34.36 million remaining on his current contract but is seeking a new deal.
When taking that into consideration, a second and third-round pick sounds like a fair price to pay. But, given the market that DeAndre Hopkins will likely have, the Patriots may have to ultimately include a first-round pick to land him.
