A potential roadblock to the New England Patriots’ interest in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins might not be such an impediment after all.

It’s been assumed by some that Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and Hopkins might not want to work together again stemming from their days together with the Houston Texans. O’Brien, then the Texans’ head coach, actually traded Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer gets the “sense” that O’Brien wouldn’t be opposed to working with Hopkins again.

“Despite perception out there, my sense is that O’Brien would be plenty on board with, not against, signing Hopkins (and Hopkins had his most productive years playing for O’Brien in Houston),” Breer wrote Monday.

The Patriots have interest in Hopkins, a source told A to Z Sports. New England will be monitoring the wide receiver’s free-agent market.

He’d be a major boost to an offense in need of playmakers. And it seems his price is dropping without many obvious interested suitors.

The Patriots have had mixed results with aging veteran superstars. Randy Moss and Darrelle Revis worked out great. Albert Haynesworth and Joey Galloway? Not so much.

Hopkins hasn't played a full season since 2020, will be 31 years old this season and is coming off of a PED suspension. But he'd also be the best pass catcher on the Patriots in a group that also includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thonrton, Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki.

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