New England Patriots - NESN.com
As the NFL trade deadline looms on November 4, contending teams like the New England Patriots are scouting opportunities to reshape their rosters. The Pats have multiple areas of need, but they could definitely stand to gain from injecting veteran talent into their receiving corps. As such, acquiring Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins via trade could transform their Drake Maye-led offense into a more dynamic unit.
Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker suggested the Patriots as a fit for Hopkins this week. “Although the Ravens entered play Sunday ranked 22nd in offensive EPA per play, Hopkins has assembled a bounce-back season,” Locker wrote.
“His 92.7 PFF receiving grade is the second-best among all receivers. On top of that, Hopkins has hauled in five of six contested targets and has yet to drop a pass. Having already suited up for three teams over the last two years, Hopkins could soon call a fourth franchise home. … The Patriots — who rank seventh in team PFF receiving grade — could seek another field-stretching option for Drake Maye next to Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte.”
Locker suggested three other fits for Hopkins: the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet, the Patriots present an ideal landing spot, particularly for supporting Maye’s growth. As a young signal-caller, Maye would thrive with Hopkins’s veteran savvy, contested-catch prowess, and ability to create separation downfield. Pairing him with Diggs’s speed and Boutte’s emerging potential could diversify New England’s passing attack and reduce pressure on Maye.
At 33, Hopkins remains a proven playmaker whose experience could mentor the unit while delivering immediate impact. With the Ravens potentially shifting priorities, the Patriots should explore this trade to accelerate their progress around Maye.
Hopkins entered the league as a first-round draft pick by the Houston Texans in 2013, rapidly becoming a dominant force with his exceptional hands and route-running precision. During his seven seasons in Houston, he amassed over 8,000 receiving yards, earned five Pro Bowl nods, and secured three First-Team All-Pro honors, including leading the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions in 2017.
Traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, Hopkins maintained his elite production, notching consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns despite quarterback inconsistencies. His journeys continued with the Tennessee Titans in 2023 and a mid-season trade to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024, where he contributed to their playoff push before signing a one-year deal with the Ravens in March 2025.
Hopkins’s tenure in Baltimore has demonstrated a strong revival, even as the Ravens grapple with offensive inefficiencies.
