Would Patriots Make Cuts to Sign DeAndre Hopkins?

With wheels in motion on DeAndre Hopkins' potential arrival, who, if anyone, would the New England Patriots let go to land his services?

Are the New England Patriots closing in on another clutch, unexpected victory?

The possibility has resurfaced with DeAndre Hopkins set to visit Foxborough next week, as the lauded veteran receiver appears poised to make a late impact on the NFL offseason. He has already met with the Tennessee Titans and will likely do his due diligence for a relatively desperate group that may be forced to offer Odell Beckham bucks to tread water in the offense-happy modern NFL.

While one could argue that the Patriots don't exactly give Hopkins the championship aspiration he's seeking ... such doubt brought about by uncertainty in the backfield and a reloaded/improved AFC East ... there's no doubt that they're financially capable of making him happy. As it stands, the Patriots are working with just over $14.2 million in cap space. While that's relatively low amongst open money (13th as both Hopkins and Dalvin Cook are on the market), it's healthy amongst their competition: Tennessee, for example, has just over $7.9 million to work with as it stands.

Bolstering the Patriots' case is set they're currently set to lead the league in 2024 cap space at over $122 million, which would give them an inside track on inking Hopkins to a deal beyond this season. But a sacrifice might have to be made to press forward in the immediate future ... potentially leading to one more major change before the offseason lets out. 

So who would be on the potential chopping block? Ironically enough, some of the Patriots' current box score residents could pave the way for another.

At first glance, the primary option would DeVante Parker: set to play the latter season of a two-year deal on a $6.2 million cap hit, he by far carries the most savings without a financial penalty (which would add to the $21 million they currently owe in dead money). Eager to change the narrative on his NFL career after struggling to live up to first-round billing in Miami, Parker struggled to make an impact in the developing offense. Nearly 30 percent of his 539 yards came in Week 3's loss to Baltimore. 

Elsewhere on the roster, the Patriots can cut some of the excessive veteran projects they're working with: the team has appeared to have made a commitment to Hunter Henry despite Mike Gesicki's arrival but could re-consider considering they'll save $10.5 million upon his departure (almost of it becoming dead money). The future of Parker's fellow second-year Pat Kendrick Bourne ($5.4 million in savings) could likewise be analyzed.

Other major names who create no dead money include Myles Bryant ($2.6 million), James Robinson ($1.7 million), and Cody Davis ($1.6 million) but their respective savings probably move the needle on a Hopkins deal. 

Even if the Patriots are forced to make a late cut or two, they're well situated to succeed if the Hopkins gambit plays in their favor; the former Arizona Cardinal's playmaking ability speaks for itself, as he'd immediately become the most accomplished name in the Patriots' receiver room, an All-Pro-worthy talent that would give Mac Jones some sense of big-play comfort.

Additionally, releasing a veteran like Parker, Bourne, or even Robinson would open things up for one of their young projects to take over. At receiver, for example, the team would likely love to carve out some new opportunities for 2022 second-round choice Tyquan Thornton, who struggled to get snaps after some freshman medical woes. New England also welcomed in Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas in the most recent sixth round last month.

First things first, however: making a strong first impression on Hopkins.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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