Report: Patriots are ‘extra doubtless’ to pursue DeAndre Hopkins now that he’s been lower

Patriots

The possibilities of Hopkins ending up in Foxborough have reportedly gotten a bit of higher.

The Arizona Cardinals launched five-time Professional Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Friday.

Hopkins had a cap hit of $30.75 million for this upcoming season, which might have made him extraordinarily dear for the Patriots to pursue. It was the costliest cap hit for an NFL large receiver, and No. 7 total amongst NFL gamers.

However now that he’s been launched, the Cardinals will save north of eight million whereas absorbing $22.6 million in a lifeless cap hit, in line with ESPN.

That makes the prospect of New England signing Hopkins appear extra affordable, in line with Jeff Howe of The Athletic.

“The Patriots, who beforehand checked in on DeAndre Hopkins, usually tend to pursue him now that the contract isn’t as a lot of a hurdle, per sources,” Howe wrote on Twitter. “Monetary competitors is an element, however there must be a degree of curiosity from New England.”

The Patriots may use a giant title receiver to pair with Juju Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, and Mike Gesicki amongst others. New England’s offense struggled final 12 months, and including extra weapons round Mac Jones can solely assist.

The Patriots, who beforehand checked in on DeAndre Hopkins, usually tend to pursue him now that the contract is not as a lot of a hurdle, per sources. Monetary competitors is an element, however there must be a degree of curiosity from New England.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) May 26, 2023

Hopkins caught 221 passes for two,696 yards, and 17 touchdowns over three seasons with Arizona. The majority of these yards got here in 2020, his first season with the crew, when he tallied 1,407 yards.

Initially drafted by the Texans in 2013, Hopkins spent seven years in Houston earlier than being traded to the Cardinals in 2020 for operating again David Johnson, a second-round choose, and a fourth-round choose.

He topped 1,000 yards in 5 of these seven seasons, and had three seasons the place he reached double-figures in touchdowns.

Whereas he was as soon as thought-about one of many NFL’s premier large receivers, there are considerations that age and harm have taken their toll on Hopkins. He missed a number of video games in 2021 with a torn MCL and was suspended for six video games in 2022 due to a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug coverage.

“Buffalo has had curiosity. The Patriots have had curiosity,” longtime NFL reporter Mike Giardi wrote. “Finest I can inform, nobody believes he’s what he as soon as was, and that will likely be a part of the problem in buying the participant. A few groups I spoke with earlier than the draft imagine $$$ would be the driver on this, extra so than a hoop.”