A marquee free agent in the National Football League is set to visit the New England Patriots.
DeAndre Hopkins, a three-time first-team All-Pro wide receiver, will visit New England next week. Ian Rapoport, a National NFL Insider, reported the news Friday as Hopkins is looking for a new team. Randy Moss was the last talented offensive playmaker to join the Patriots from another team. He came to New England in 2007 via trade from the Oakland Raiders and was sensational.
Former #AZCardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is set to visit the #Patriots next week, sources say. This is after his #Titans visit, as Hopkins’ free agent market heats up. New England could add a top pass-catcher for Mac Jones. pic.twitter.com/ip2KCk2pLN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2023
A DeAndre Hopkins visit to the #Patriots makes sense for a lot of reasons. Here is one: He played for now-Pats OC Bill O’Brien to start his career in Houston and was an All-Pro three times in his offense. A reunion would be fascinating. https://t.co/6SeXk1fVA1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2023
Hopkins, 31, is a five-time Pro Bowl selection.
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A former first-round pick in 2013, he spent seven seasons with the Houston Texans (2013-19) and three years with the Arizona Cardinals (2020-22). Hopkins was a 1,000+ yard receiver in six of ten seasons in the NFL, including five years in Houston.
He had a career-high 115 receptions for 1,572 yards in 2018 while totaling a career-high 13 touchdown catches in 2017. The 6-foot-1, 214-pounder has plenty of football left in the tank, but it will be interesting to see if the Patriots pull the trigger and get him.
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Mac Jones needs a No. 1 option. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki are complementary pieces, but adding Hopkins gives New England’s offense a chance to be a threat. Bill O’Brien returns as an offensive assistant (coordinator) for the Patriots, and he has a history with Hopkins. We will see how it boils down, but the Patriots can only hope they do enough to bring in Hopkins.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
