Weeks after being released by the Arizona Cardinals, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is taking the next step in his free-agency process with a scheduled visit to meet the New England Patriots.
Hopkins, age 31, was cut by Arizona in May after the franchise was unable to find a trade partner for him. The former All-Pro receiver generated interest from multiple teams, but the Cardinals’ asking price and Hopkins’ contract prevented a deal.
- DeAndre Hopkins career earnings:Â $111.577 million
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Since he became a free agent, the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys have publicly taken themselves out of the running to sign him. There’s also a growing expectation that he won’t land with the Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills, opening the door for another AFC team to land him.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hopkins is poised to visit with the Patriots after he concludes his meeting this week with the Tennessee Titans.
- DeAndre Hopkins stats (career):Â 853 receptions, 11,298 receiving yards, 71 touchdowns
The visit with New England means Hopkins’ first two official meetings are with teams that he has a personal connection with from his days with the Houston Texans. Titans’ coach Miek Vrabel was an assistant on the Texans’ coaching staff from 2014-’17.
Hopkins’ relationship with the Patriots coaching staff is more uncertain. He clashed with Bill O’Brien in Houston, resulting in O’Brien trading Hopkins to Arizona. While their past was expected to have a negative influence on the Patriots’ chances of signing Hopkins, they are clearly in the running to sign him.
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With the Chiefs and Bills seemingly out of the mix, Hopkins’ eventual landing spot might not be with a team that has one of his top five quarterbacks in the NFL. If the Patriots want to sign him, it could come down to a bidding war with the Titans and others.