The New England Patriots reportedly believe after meeting with DeAndre Hopkins that they had a strong chance of signing the All-Pro wide receiver. As Patriots training camp approaches, though, New England could be in for a battle to land him.
Hopkins, entering his age 31 season, was released by the Arizona Cardinals on May 26. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Hopkins immediately lined up visits with the Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
- DeAndre Hopkins stats (career): 853 receptions, 11,298 receiving yards, 71 touchdowns
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Soon after meeting with Tennessee and New England, Hopkins began evaluating his options. A free agent for the first time in his NFL career, the five-time All-Pro selection wanted to weigh his opportunities before making a decision.
One month later, Hopkins remains unsigned. The 6-foot-1 receiver hasn’t scheduled another visit with an NFL team and his representatives have reportedly only been in contact with a limited number of clubs. While New England and Tennessee remain the favorites, the Patriots reportedly aren’t making as strong of a push as their opposition.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, both the Patriots and Titans have made contract offers to Hopkins. However, Tennessee has reportedly “been more aggressive” and seems to have made the veteran wideout a stronger offer.
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The lack of aggressiveness from the Patriots’ front office isn’t an indicator of declining interest. Even after signing wide receiver DeVante Parker to an extension, New England maintained an active dialogue with Hopkins.
From the Patriots’ perspective, there’s no incentive to push Hopkins right now. The veteran is letting the process unfold slowly, hoping another team gets involved with a better offer. While the Kansas City Chiefs are still in the mix, they don’t have the cap space to sign Hopkins right now.
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It will likely be several more weeks before Hopkins makes a decision, with a deal unlikely to be signed until after NFL training camp begins. The 31-year-old is training on his own, so he doesn’t need to be in attendance for the first training camp practice with his new team. However, there will likely be a greater push to get a deal signed in August.