The New England Patriots have undergone a lot of turnover at the wide receiver position, trading Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams while watching Danny Amendola join the Miami Dolphins. Their departures makes the roles for the mainstays all the more important, which is likely why the franchise has already begun extension talks with Chris Hogan.

From The Athletic's Jeff Howe:

Chris Hogan and the Patriots have had negotiations regarding a contract extension, but the two sides remain a bit too far apart at the early stages of the process, per source. Doesn’t mean they can’t make up ground in the coming weeks. But again, the process is ongoing.

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Hogan is in the final year of a three-year, $12 million deal that he signed with New England back in 2016. Howe also noted that an extension could be difficult to come to terms on because of the rise in the market value for number two receivers ($8 million), easily exceeding Julian Edelman's current salary.

Hogan stepped up for the Patriots in the first half of the 2017 season in wake of Edelman's season-ending ACL tear. He was on pace for nearly 900 receiving yards through eight games before suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to miss seven games on the back-half of the schedule. After getting sparse playing time in New England's two playoff victories to reach the Super Bowl, Hogan shined brightly in the big game despite New England's defeat, hauling in six receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown.

With both Cooks and Amendola gone in addition to Edelman's absence for four games due to a suspension, Hogan has an opportunity to prove that he deserves a more lucrative extension over the first month of the season.