DeAndre Hopkins to New England? Patriots Locker Room Reacts to Signing Idea

"I don't know the gist of what's going on, but he is a great player,'' Bourne of Hopkins and his coming visit to the Patriots. "Anything that would help us win, I'm with."

NFL free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is set to visit with the New England Patriots in the coming days, and while it is the talk of the town, it is also - understandably - the talk of the locker room.

A big-time receiver for QB Mac Jones. ... A big-time receiver of the sort New England hasn't employed in years ... A heart-and-soul debate for Hop about "winning vs. wealth'' ... A re-marriage between "Nuk'' and his old boss Bill O'Brien - who once traded him away from the Houston Texans.

That's some of the talk.

And on Friday, during the media visit portion of Patriots practice, the subject came up with another wide receiver, Kendrick Bourne, being asked about the possibility of this wide receiver - D-Hop - landing in Foxboro.

"I'm a fan of D-Hop," Bourne said. "It would be cool.''

Hopkins was released by the Cardinals earlier this offseason and is now free to sign with whichever team he wants. ... maybe the team that is willing to fork over $20 million APY, which is the going rate for a player of his caliber. The former Texans superstar was once given a divorce from O'Brien - Houston created an idiotically lopsided trade and moved him to Arizona under the watch of the coach, who is now the Pats' offensive coordinator - but all must be forgiven ...

Otherwise, why would the player even be accepting an invitation from a New England franchise that has put O'Brien in charge under head coach Bill Belichick?

Bourne is already slated to be a backup; indeed, when we talk about who might get "sacrificed'' should Hopkins come here, he is on the list in some form. The projected depth chart features JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton. ... And Bourne - who finished the 2022 season with 35 catches for 434 yards and one touchdown - could be knocked down a peg. Nevertheless, he unselfishly speaks for the locker room, we bet, with his take on Hopkins.

"I don't know the gist of what's going on, but he is a great player,'' Bourne said. "Anything that would help us win, I'm with."

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