default-cbs-image

The Patriots need help at wide receiver, but this isn't the best market for finding one. So they did what they always do: steal an underrated one from a division opponent.

The last time it was Wes Welker, snared away from the Dolphins by Bill Belichick and converted into (maybe) the greatest slot receiver of all time.

Chris Hogan is the latest name, although please understand there's no comparison here to Welker as a player. I repeat: we are not comparing Chris Hogan and Wes Welker as players. 

As transactional moves go, however, there is some similarity when comparing Hogan to Welker (pre-Patriots).

Comparing Pats Pickups
Team Age Years Pro Catches Yards  Yards/Catch  TD Catches
Chris Hogan  27  4  87  959  11.0  6
Wes Welker  25  3  96  1121  11.7  1

Hogan's a 6-foot-1 wideout, whereas Welker was 5-9.

But this happened before with the Dolphins, when they tendered Welker at a low cost, the Patriots moved to sign him to an offer sheet and ended up working out a trade. 

The Bills put a low-round tender on Hogan, the Patriots saw value and jumped on it. New England front-loaded the contract, giving Hogan $5.5 million in his first year, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport:

Not matching frees up about $1.15 million in cap space for Buffalo, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.

Chris Hogan could be headed to the Patriots. (USATSI)

Rodak also notes a guy like Hogan has much more value to the Pats in a pass-heavy offense than the Bills, who prefer to run the ball.

And if you're buying what Jeff Howe is selling, Hogan could burst on the scene next year playing with Tom Brady.

Also, could there be a more Belichickian player?

All this guy needs is a grey hoodie at this point.