Improving their wide receiver room – specifically the top end of the depth chart – is one of the Patriots’ biggest needs this offseason. Last year the group underperformed as a whole, and leading receiver Jakobi Meyers is a pending free agent and is projected to be the top player at his position in this class. As NFL Network’s Mike Giardi reported earlier this offseason, at least some inside the building “feel the WR room needs a real upgrade.”
So the question may be less ‘if’ the Patriots are going to upgrade, but ‘how’? Free agency? A trade? The Draft?
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 08: Jerry Jeudy #10 of the Denver Broncos runs past Ja’Sir Taylor #36 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
All things considered, Jeudy probably makes the most sense for the Patriots right now. For one, the cost to acquire him is expected to be reasonable. At last years trade deadline, it was reportedly a second-round and fifth-round pick. The Patriots would likely need to give him a new contract, but they have the financial flexibility to do so – especially with Mac Jones on a rookie contract.
Speaking of Jones, him and Jeudy have a familiarity with one another from their time together at Alabama. Jeudy was the team’s leading receiver in 2019, when Mac Jones took over partway through the year after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a hip injury.
Jeudy also projects as an ideal scheme fit for what the Patriots’ offense projects to be under Bill O’Brien. O’Brien’s offenses traditionally ask more of the slot receiver than any other skill position. Last season in Denver, Jeudy split his time evenly between the slot and out wide. He ranked fifth among all qualifying receivers with an 81.1 PFF grade. Whether lining up in the slot or out wide, he excelled over the middle in the intermediate part of the field, which is where Jones is at his best throwing the football.
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals lines up during the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on December 13, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 30-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Hopkins has been a rumored Patriots trade target since the end of last season, after a mic’d up conversation he had with Bill Belichick when the Patriots played the Cardinals on Monday Night Football. It was later reported Hopkins is expected to be traded by the Cardinals, who made a change at both GM and head coach this offseason.
Like Jeudy, the price for Hopkins isn’t expected to be excessive. He’ll be 31 by the time the next season starts, and has played just 16 games over the last two seasons due to injuries and a six-game PED suspension.
Still, Hopkins has been impactful when he’s on the field. In nine games in 2022 he caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns. Plus, his detail-oriented play style is less likely to be impacted by age than pure burner receivers, for example.
Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Brandin Cooks #13 of the Houston Texans catches the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Could a reunion between the Patriots and Cooks be on the table this offseason? Cooks was rumored to be on the block at this year’s trade deadline, but the Texans never made a deal.
Despite jumping from team-to-team in recent years, Cooks has stayed productive. He’s reached the 1,000-yard mark and five-touchdown mark in every season that he’s played at least 15 games in his career. In 13 games last year, he had 57 catches for 699 yards and three scores.
Turning 30 at the start of next season, Cooks would certainly add a much-needed speed element to the Patriots’ offense. He can play both on the slot and on the boundary. One big road block could be his contract though – he’s guaranteed $18 million for the 2023 season.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 01: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against the Las Vegas Raiders during the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
The 49ers have loaded up their offense recently, but they can’t realistically keep everybody. That’s left some to wonder if Aiyuk could be available via trade. Aiyuk, who turns 25 later this month, is entering the final concrete year of his rookie deal with his fifth-year option on the table. If the Niners don’t plan on keeping him, they could move him now instead of risking losing him for nothing.
Aiyuk has been a strong contributor his first three seasons in the NFL, and is coming off a career year when he caught 78 passes for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. A well-rounded player, his versatile skillset would fit well in the Patriots’ offense.
However, Aiyuk hasn’t been overly tested in the NFL. He’s had coverage protection from guys like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and this year Christian McCaffrey, often leaving him one-on-one with corners further down the depth chart. Will his production hold up against No. 1 coverage assignments? And do the Patriots want to pay the price to find out?
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball after a catch during the second half in the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Buccaneers already made a pair of cap-clearing moves this week, but they have a long way to go to get to cap compliancy. Some have pointed to Evans, 29, as a potential cap casualty.
Despite having what some perceived as a ‘down year’ in 2022, Evans caught 77 passes for 1,124 yards and six touchdowns last season. At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, he’s a matchup nightmare down the field.
Evans won’t come cheap – he’s due $14.5 million this season in the final year of his contract. Given his recent production, the Buccaneers can likely command a top-100 pick in a deal for him as well.
