Wide receiver trade market remains quiet
INDIANAPOLIS >> With a lackluster free-agent crop and unspectacular draft class looming later this spring, if the Patriots want a new No. 1 wide receiver before next season, they have only one avenue: trade.
But don’t hold your breath for a blockbuster any time soon, especially if it involves Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins.
“I’m not in the business of making other teams better. I’m in the business of making the Cincinnati Bengals better, and so trading Tee Higgins is not on my mind. That’s their problem,” Bengals GM Duke Tobin declared Tuesday at the NFL Combine. “If they want a receiver, go find your own.”
Tobin went so far as to call rumors of a possible Higgins trade “ridiculous.” Those rumors stem from the fact Higgins is entering a contract year, and the Bengals are all but guaranteed to extend massive deals soon to superstar quarterback Joe Burrow and fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase. The expectation is Cincinnati will not have the necessary cap space to retain all three players, given Burrow and Chase are already Pro Bowlers and Higgins a 1,000-yard receiver for consecutive seasons.
Last season, multiple teams declined to pay their young star receivers and instead exchanged them for first-round picks, like the Titans did sending A.J. Brown to Philadelphia on draft night. While it’s unclear whether the Patriots would be interested in such a deal, Higgins would be far from the only receiver they might consider in this scenario.
There’s Denver’s Jerry Jeudy, who could have two years remaining on his deal if the Broncos (or his next team) elect to pick up a 2024 team option in his contract by May 1. Doing so would cost a projected $14.1 million in 2024, a reasonable price for a budding No. 1 receiver. Jeudy has improved every season of his young career and recently posted career highs with 67 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns, including some of the best receiving numbers versus man coverage across the NFL.
Broncos GM George Paton took a less fiery tone when addressing Jeudy’s option and future on Tuesday.
“(I’m) really happy with how Jerry finished off the season. Especially the last couple games,” Paton said, referring to Jeudy’s 523 yards over his last six outings. “We make those decisions in May, right near the draft we’ll make that decision. But really happy with where Jerry is at.”
Jeudy, 23, is a former first-round pick who overlapped with Patriots quarterback Mac Jones at Alabama when Jones was a college backup. If the Patriots’ objective is to simply surround Jones with the best possible talent, Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins offers another trade target. Though the five-time Pro Bowler would arrive with a cap hit north of $19.1 million, eating up more than half of the Pats’ current space.
Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort are reportedly looking to trade Hopkins as they enter a full rebuild in Year 1 of their new regime. But like their more seasoned colleagues Tuesday, they spoke as if they were open to keeping him, even if the 30-year-old receiver doesn’t fit their new timeline.
“I’ve had a conversation with DeAndre and DeAndre’s representative. Those have been very productive conversations,” Ossenfort said. “I’ve watched from afar the last 10 years, or whatever it’s been with DeAndre and been on teams that have had to compete against him. … I know he’s tough to defend and so I’m glad he’s on the team.”
“We’re looking at evaluating everybody,” Gannon added. “I know this: he’s a premier receiver that you have to have a plan for and he severely limits you with how you play defense when you defend a team that he’s on. … He’s a valuable asset for us.”
Translation: welcome to the waiting game. We’re open for business.
Denver door open for Patricia
Last week, the Broncos passed over Matt Patricia to hire Vance Joseph as their new defensive coordinator.
But Tuesday, head coach Sean Payton indicated Patricia could still join his staff in Denver.
“He and I are going to talk this week. … I wouldn’t rule that out,” Payton told reporters at the NFL Combine. “If that possibly came to fruition, it would be for a few things. I’d certainly want to talk to Vance (Joseph) and our defensive coaches. But I know Matt well enough to know how smart he is and what he can contribute. So we’ll see.”
Patricia was the final candidate to interview for Denver’s defensive coordinator position last week. Two days later, the Broncos announced a series of coaching hires that concluded a month-long process of building out Payton’s new staff. On Tuesday, Payton detailed his interview with Patricia, who last year served as the Patriots’ offensive play-caller but has a defensive background.
“He was outstanding,” Payton said. “I’ve known him for a long time. We’ve practiced against the Patriots. I think he’s extremely talented. … So that was easy. I knew right away I wanted to interview Matt.”
Under Patricia’s leadership, the Patriots offense fell to new lows for the Bill Belichick era, averaging 18.1 points per game. Prior to leading the offense with Belichick, Patricia served as a senior football advisor in 2021 and the Lions’ head coach from 2018-20. His original stint with the Patriots included a six-year run as their defensive coordinator, during which time the team won two Super Bowls.
Patricia does not currently hold an official position with the Patriots after being replaced as their offensive line coach by Adrian Klemm and their offensive play-caller by coordinator Bill O’Brien. If he returns to New England, it is unclear what role Patricia would have either on the staff or possibly in the front office.
Extra points
The Patriots are scheduled to work out former Alabama wide receiver Slade Bolden, according to ESPN. Bolden is a second-year player who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Ravens last spring. He was placed on injured reserve in August and released in October. In college, he caught 42 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns during his final season, and roomed with Mac Jones while the two were in college in 2020. … Asked if he believes Tom Brady has retired for good, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht laughed at his press conference Tuesday and replied, “Pretty much, yeah.” … Defensive line and linebacker prospects will meet with the media Wednesday morning at the NFL Combine and continue to sit for team interviews.