DeAndre Delay with Patriots? Hey Bills, Hopkins Waiting for 'More Suitors'

DeAndre Hopkins, dragging his feet on signing, talks of wanting to help a contender. And aren't the Bills more qualified to claim that status than the Patriots, the Titans, the Browns and the Panthers?

We know about the New England Patriots' high level of confidence when it comes to their plan to sign DeAndre Hopkins. We also know the Patriots have shuffled around cap room to make the addition of the free agent All-Pro receiver more palatable.

But "everything has been pointing to New England,'' as everybody keeps writing, for quite some time now. So ... what are we waiting for? There are three theories. ...

One - Like many other vets in his circumstance, the 31-year-old is not especially excited about hurrying to an NFL training camp. So maybe he'll go when he goes.

Two - We know that in addition to the Patriots commitment, the Titans have made him a contract offer. And now we know that the Panthers and Browns are "lurking'' as potential pursuers. So why not wait another day or another week to see if a bidding war can be created?

Three - and this is a new one: Long-time Patriots writer Mike Giardi is suggesting that Hopkins, even after New England moved around money with an extension for receiver DeVante Parker, is waiting ... for more bidders, more pursuers, more "lurkers.'' 

Writes Giardi: "League sources tell me Hopkins remains hopeful that more suitors will emerge, thereby increasing his bargaining power.''

And that, dear Buffalo Bills fans, is where we will suggest again that your team takes another look at chasing the former Arizona Cardinals star, cut this offseason for cap purposes. Buffalo GM Brandon Beane has frequently downplayed the chances here, presumably because "D-Hop'' might want $20 million APY, which would not be a cap-friendly deal for the Bills.

But Hopkins has openly flirted with the idea of playing with Josh Allen. And Stefon Diggs apparently wouldn't mind a bookend. And Hopkins himself talks of wanting to help a contender. And aren't the Bills more qualified to claim that status than the Patriots, the Titans, the Browns and the Panthers?All of this is enough for us to want to nudge the Bills into being, at the very least, one of "Nuk's'' "lurkers.

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