The New England Patriots watched their top wide receiver leave in free agency when Jakobi Meyers reportedly agreed to a three-year, $ 33 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
But it appears they have other plans.
The Patriots have called the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos, respectively, about trading for wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Jerry Jeudy, The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported Wednesday, adding that New England is "in the WR market."
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Hopkins, who has two years remaining on his contract with Arizona, admitted recently he's "been hearing a lot of trade talks", so it seems like a deal is possible. Hopkins left the Houston Texans on bad terms with then-head coach Bill O'Brien, however, so some were skeptical that New England would target the Pro Bowl wide receiver with O'Brien installed as the new offensive coordinator.
But that hasn't stopped the Patriots from at least calling the Cardinals about Hopkins, it appears. While the price tag would be steep -- one report suggested Arizona would want a second-round pick for Hopkins -- he'd immediately become New England's No. 1 receiver just two seasons removed from a 1,407-yard campaign in 2020.
Curran: Jakobi Meyers' exit highlights Patriots' value disconnect
New England Patriots
The same goes for Jeudy, who racked up 972 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 67 catches in an impotent Broncos offense last season. Jeudy also overlapped with Patriots quarterback Mac Jones for two seasons at Alabama.
Denver is seeking "at least" a first-round pick for Jeudy, per Howe, so he'd be a significant investment. He's also entering the final year of his rookie deal and is in line for a lucrative second deal in 2024 or 2025 if his fifth-year option is picked up.
The Patriots desperately need at least one upgrade at wide receiver, however, so trading for a player like Hopkins or Jeudy might be worth the cost.