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Patriots tried to trade Jamie Collins to Texans for DeAndre Hopkins

By Brad Berreman

Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a reception during the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a reception during the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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As they shopped linebacker Jamie Collins around the league, the New England Patriots aimed high in talks with the Houston Texans.

With his potential contract demands in mind and rumors of his freelancing ways, the New England Patriots traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a draft pick prior to October’s trade deadline. The Browns have since signed Collins to a four-year, $50 million contract with $26 million guaranteed.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has reported the Patriots called multiple teams about Collins as the trade deadline approached, including the Houston Texans. Cornerback Jonathan Joseph apparently peaked New England’s interest, but Texans’ wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was also on the Patriots’ radar. The Texans were unwilling to engage in talks about a Hopkins-for-Collins deal, and the Patriots were forced to move on.

After catching 111 passes for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns from a revolving door of quarterbacks in 2015, the hope was Hopkins would keep up a high level of production with Brock Osweiler under center this season. But that did not come to fruition, as Hopkins finished with 78 receptions for 954 yards and just four touchdowns during the regular season.

Entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2017, Hopkins is in line for a lucrative contract extension soon. Texans owner Bob McNair has said extending Hopkins is a priority this offseason, and Hopkins has said he likes the direction the organization is headed.

But if those looming contract talks stall at all, or are eventually tabled all together, New England’s interest in Hopkins could ramp up again at next year’s trade deadline and linger into 2018 free agency.

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The prospect of Tom Brady throwing to Hopkins during Sunday’s Super Bowl would have been very interesting. But the Texans can’t be blamed for hanging onto their best offensive player, especially when Collins may not have fit well in their already top-notch defense.

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