Why the Patriots should think twice about signing DeAndre Hopkins
DeAndre Hopkins is still on the market, but teams, including the New England Patriots, might start thinking twice about picking up the receiver. ESPN's Matt Bowen wrote an article detailing the top unsigned players in NFL free agency, and Hopkins was left off that list. Hopkins became a free agent for the first time in […]
DeAndre Hopkins is still on the market, but teams, including the New England Patriots, might start thinking twice about picking up the receiver.
ESPN's Matt Bowen wrote an article detailing the top unsigned players in NFL free agency, and Hopkins was left off that list.
Hopkins became a free agent for the first time in his 10 year NFL career after the Arizona Cardinals released him on Friday, May 26. The move cleared $7.38 million in cap space in 2023, while carrying $22.6 million in dead cap, but the Cardinals will have Hopkins salary removed from the cap in 2024, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero report.
There has been much speculation and rumors surrounding the possibility of Hopkins joining the Patriots, with the receiver posting to Instagram where he appeared to be watching Patriots' Super Bowl highlights. That's combined with reports that he would have a strong chance at thriving in New England because he would be going to a place that wouldn't be completely reliant on him and would have a strong receiver room.
Bowen's list included mostly defensive players, but he included QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Kareem Hunt, and RB Ezekiel Elliot. No receivers were added to the rankings.
Hopkins started the 2022 season suspended due to a violation of the league's performance enhancing drug policy. He returned in Week 7 and finished the season playing in nine games with 64 receptions for 717 yards and three touchdowns.
With mandatory minicamp right around the corner and training camp just a month away, teams are looking to perfect their teams and it will be interesting to see if Hopkins makes his way onto one of those rosters.
Featured Image via Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
