DeAndre Hopkins Signing Backup Plan: Patriots Trade for Courtland Sutton?

What if DeAndre Hopkins decides to sign elsewhere? New England should check in with the Broncos, who continue to be rumored to be dangling their receivers on the market.

The New England Patriots have made a pair of commitments to improving the pass-catching game by jumping into free agency with the signings of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki. They are presently on the verge of doing the same - only bigger - with their "Navy SEALS'' pursuit of DeAndre Hopkins, who would fill the role as coach Bill Belichick's first true "No. 1 receiver'' in years.

But what if Hopkins decides to sign elsewhere, with one of the teams said to be "lurking'' in the DeAndre Derby? Maybe New England should check in with the Denver Broncos, who continue to be rumored to be dangling their receivers on the market.

A maybe-expendable name in Denver? Let's try Courtland Sutton, who is 6-4 and 215 (New England likes that), has a pedigree as a second-round pick and a one-time Pro Bowler (New England likes that) and is seemingly rehabbed fully after an old knee injury.

A major issue with the Broncos - and it's why they've not moved any of their receivers - has been their asking price. Jerry Jeudy's name has come up often; the Dallas Cowboys took a serious stab at dealing for him at the deadline last year, thinking that a second-round pick would do it ... and then it seems Denver jacked up the price to a "second-round plus,'' with one report of them asking for a first-rounder.

New England shouldn't pay that sort of price here. Sutton in his last two seasons has caught about 60 balls a year for 800 yards and two TDs; acquiring him would be a bet on the come, so Bleacher Report's idea of sending a second-round pick to Denver in exchange for Sutton is too steep.

But the logic of entering the trade market for more help should logically be in play .. if Hopkins is not secured. Belichick and the Patriots are essentially admitting, with the D-Hop chase, that they have a need. If he opts to not fill it .. Belichick and the Patriots should give chase somewhere else.

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