Hopkins To The Patriots, Maybe.

DeAndre Hopkins to the Patriots is the current chatter in Patriots Nation. Should they do it and what should they pay for him if they consider it? From what I infer from the Fandom, the Patriots should pay him the entire salary cap and keep a bunch of vet and rookie minimum contract players. I'm going to bring it back down to earth. 

Let's start with his stats. He was targeted 96 times and caught 64 of them. So he's good for a reception 2/3s the time. He averaged a little over 11 yards a reception but only found the end zone three times. However, he found the first down markers 35 times. And while missing a few games, he was still part of 88% of the team offensive snaps.

Hopkins is due $19 million. I don't care what anyone says, non quarterbacks shouldn't make more than 7.5 percent of the team's salary and quarterbacks shouldn't make more than ten. So before a trade is agreed upon, he's gott be willing to do a massive restructuring.

So what to pay for the 30 year old receiver? For starters, the Patriots should not give up anything higher than a third round pick. A third and a 5th are the most draft capital the Patriots should surrender. With acquiring Hopkins, the Patriots could better develop Thorton by keeping him as a third or fourth option in his second year. 

Yeah, the Patriots might have competition but make them over pay. The reason why the Patriots have some many good players is because they never over pay for elite players. Start by offering the Cardinals a 4th and a 6th. They probably won't bite but the Patriots are getting comp picks and I believe they will have a total of two thirds, so they could play with the negotiations.

Would I make the trade, it all depends on how much the cost is to both sign him and to acquire him from Arizona. If they follow my scenario, yes I would trade for him. But what ever they do, they need not be willing to mortgage the future to acquire him.