Following mandatory minicamp, NFL teams have several weeks to make roster changes before training camp.
The New England Patriots have actively pursued free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in recent weeks, but it does not seem like a signing will be happening anytime soon. Following a two-day free agency, all signs pointed towards Hopkins time in Foxborough as positive from both sides.
However, the five-time Pro Bowler has signaled that he is in no rush to sign a contract with a new team – leaving the Patriots with a level of uncertainty.
Because of that, Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton is now proposing that the Patriots trade for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton in exchange for a second-round draft pick.
“If the Patriots strike out with Hopkins, who’s a big-bodied 6-foot-1, 211-pounder, they can turn their focus to Sutton, who’s also a big pass-catching target at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds,” Moton wrote.
“New England may be aggressive in search of a veteran wideout,” Moton added. “In the AFC East, the Patriots need to keep pace with two rivals that made the playoffs last season and the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets.”
On top of not knowing much about Hopkins, the Patriots are also dealing with JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s knee injury that still has him sidelined. He could be behind on learning the offense as he continues to work himself back.
Sutton, a 2018 second-round pick, racked up 1,112 receiving yards in 2019 before suffering a torn ACL in 2020. He rebounded with 776 yards the following season and compiled 64 catches for 829 yards in 2022.
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He will be 28 this October.
Sutton is not a high-end WR1, but he’s a top 15-20 receiver in the NFL and the Pats certainly don’t have that type of player on the roster.
