Mutual interest between free agent wideout DeAndre Hopkins and the New England Patriots appears to be strong.
Hopkins was released from his contract by the Arizona Cardinals on May 26. He visited with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and Monday before coming into New England to visit with the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday.
According to a report from Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, Hopkins’ visit with the AFC East club” “has been positive on both sides.”
New England’s star pass rusher, Matthew Judon, even did his part in trying to recruit the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to the Patriots. Hopkins posted a photo of the two together on his Instagram story.
On top of Daniels’ report, Jeff Howe of The Athletic states that there’s “a level of optimism” that Hopkins and the Patriots will agree to a deal.
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Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick has long been a fan of Hopkins. The two faced off several times, including in the 2016 AFC Divisional Round, during Hopkins’ seven-year run with the Houston Texans. Hopkins’ Cardinals also met Belichick’s Patriots in the 2020 and 2022 regular seasons, both New England victories.
New England has struggled to find a capable WR1 since Julian Edelman’s last healthy season back in 2019. Jakobi Meyers, who joined the Las Vegas Raiders in March, was New England’s leading receiver in 2022 with 804 yards.
