Patriots' Bill O'Brien Opens Door For DeAndre Hopkins: 'On Board'?
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While one former New England Patriots receiver tries to re-boot his suddenly journeyman career, is the path further being cleared for a future receiver to land in Foxboro?
Gone: N'Keal Harry
Coming: DeAndre Hopkins?
Harry, the bust of a first-round pick for the Pats in 2019, is now working out for the Dallas Cowboys after another underwhelming season: only seven catches for the Chicago Bears in 2022.
But while those same Cowboys chilled hope that they would pursue the coveted free agent Hopkins, a key Patriots' decision-maker apparently would love to have him on the roster.
"Bill O'Brien would be plenty on board with, not against, signing Hopkins," NFL insider Albert Breer wrote on Monday.
O'Brien and Hopkins were together with the Houston Texans, and their relationship didn't end well. O'Brien eventually agreed to trading Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals when he was head coach of the Texans.
But now, with O'Brien controlling the Pats' offense and New England in need of offensive playmakers, perhaps that chilly relationship is beginning to thaw?
New England has a decent chunk of change to offer Hopkins, who is still looking for a fairly large payday as he enters his 11th NFL season. The Pats have just over $14 million in cap space available, and could potentially outbid other suitors for Hopkins.
The remaining question, of course, is if Hopkins wants to play for O'Brien. The former Pro Bowl receiver has a healthy respect or Bill Belichick - and versa - but would that supersede any ill will toward his former Texans' coach?
"What I want is stable management upstairs, that's something I haven't really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston and then to Arizona," Hopkins said recently. "A QB who loves the game, a QB who brings everybody on board with him, not just himself but everybody around him ... and a great defense. A great defense wins championships."
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