Invoice O’Brien would reportedly be ‘on board with’ Patriots signing DeAndre Hopkins

Invoice O’Brien’s return to Foxborough stands as a step in the appropriate route for each Mac Jones and a once-dysfunctional Patriots offense.

However may the Patriots’ new OC additionally give the inexperienced mild on a major free-agent pickup for New England?

The DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes continues to be ongoing, with the star wideout nonetheless mulling his choices after getting minimize by the Cardinals final month. 

One of many roadblocks probably stopping Hopkins from signing in New England is the rocky historical past between him and O’Brien throughout their tenure along with the Texans. 

However in response to Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated, O’Brien would welcome a situation the place a participant of Hopkins’ pedigree joins New England’s offense in 2023.

And with each the Chiefs and Payments reportedly considered as darkish horses for the 30-year-old Hopkins, New England stays within the combine as an intriguing vacation spot. 

“At this level, I’d say each [Kansas City and Buffalo] would signal him solely at a reduction,” Breer wrote Monday of Hopkins’ choices in free company. “The Chiefs gave cash that may’ve gone to Hopkins to left deal with Donovan Smith. The Payments traded up for Dalton Kincaid, lessening their want for a chain-moving receiver and giving them one other mouth to feed in an offense that has to get the ball loads to Stefon Diggs.

“Who does that depart? Effectively, I believe now that the worth has dropped and a draft choose received’t be concerned, the Patriots are price contemplating. Regardless of notion on the market, my sense is that O’Brien could be loads on board with, not towards, signing Hopkins (and Hopkins had his most efficient years enjoying for O’Brien in Houston). The Browns are one other group that’s been linked to him, due to Hopkins’s relationship with Deshaun Watson, however because it stands proper now, I’d say that one’s unlikely.”

New England has considerably extra spending energy than the Chiefs and Payments with regards to bidding for Hopkins’ providers. Whereas each the Payments ($1.39 million in cap house) and Chiefs ($652,557) have little fiscal flexibility, the Patriots have $14.2 million to spend, per OverTheCap.com. 

And although Jones might not be on the identical tier as Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, Hopkins might be a key conduit that sparks a bounce-back season for the Patriots QB in 2023.

In simply 9 video games with the Cardinals final season, the 30-year-old Hopkins reeled in 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns.

Hopkins completed his third season in Arizona with 79.7 yards per recreation, the Tenth-highest mark amongst all NFL broad receivers in 2022.