One New England Patriots source said the team could acquire DeAndre Hopkins, as long as they don’t have to trade anything of significance or pay the wide receiver’s full contract.
Per PHNX Sports’ Howard Balzer, someone from the organization suggested the Patriots probably won’t attain Hopkins from the Arizona Cardinals unless the situation unfolds perfectly for them.
“If they are going to give him away and Hopkins is willing to play on a reduced contract, I could see it,” the source told Balzer. “But that seems unlikely to me.”
Onlookers panned New England for not more actively pursuing a Pro Bowler who can help improve a tepid offense.
“Some less-than-enthusiastic thoughts on a possible DeAndre Hopkins trade,” WEEI’s Khari Thompson noted.
“Patriots are such losers man,” a fan lamented. “We will never be great again with this mentality.”
“Someday the Pats will understand that they have to pay good players now,” another fan said. “The days of taking discounts to play with [Tom] Brady are over.”
“If there was ever a Tweet that summed up the Patriots this is it,” a fan claimed.
It indeed seems unlikely the Cardinals will donate Hopkins to a new team, only for the wide receiver to also take a significant pay cut out of the goodness of his heart.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals are seeking “hefty compensation” of a “premium Day 2 pick and more.” It sounds like something is out of New England’s price range of next-to-nothing.
However, it’s possible Arizona settles for less if intent on moving the three-time All-Pro. Hopkins, who turns 31 before the 2023 season, has played 19 games over the last two seasons.
The Patriots can certainly use an impact playmaker after struggling to move the ball downfield all season. But acquiring Hopkins could prove more costly than they’d like.