What Mac Jones mentioned about Patriots’ reported curiosity in DeAndre Hopkins

Patriots

“We have now a very good group and positively really feel like we simply must continue to grow collectively.”

FOXBORO — Invoice O’Brien’s return because the Patriots’ offensive coordinator and a bevy of free-agent additions ought to assist Mac Jones orchestrate a bounce-back third season within the NFL ranks.

However the addition of an All-Professional receiver in DeAndre Hopkins could possibly be the important thing conduit that sparks a dominant 2023 marketing campaign for Jones.

With Hopkins reportedly set to go to the Patriots in Foxboro sooner or later this week, Jones was requested in regards to the potential of including a weapon of Hopkins’ caliber forward of coaching camp.

Given the free-agent wideout’s resume, Jones acknowledged that the 31-year-old Hopkins would supply a big increase to a Patriots offense seeking to proper the ship after a dysfunctional 2022 season.

However with little readability in place as to the place the previous Texans and Cardinals star will signal this offseason, Jones additionally supplied up assist for the present receivers already in place in Foxboro.

“I feel that’s positively a hypothetical,” Jones mentioned of Hopkins doubtlessly signing in New England. “However I feel DeAndre is a superb participant. I imply, you watch his movie from school, right through the NFL — he’s executed an excellent job. So clearly we’d like to have him. However we do have an excellent group of fellows and we simply know that we need to win. And I do know that every one the blokes really feel the identical means.

“I’ve been actually happy with the playmakers that we now have on our workforce. Like we’ve come out right here and actually purchased into the system and that’ll actually present in coaching camp and preseason. It’s generally onerous to point out that out right here, however I’ve been actually happy with the tight ends, operating backs and all of the receivers, the younger guys, previous guys …. We have now a very good group and positively really feel like we simply must continue to grow collectively and whoever’s in that room we’re going to attempt to dominate collectively.”

Hopkins, who was lower by the Cardinals final month, visited the Tennessee Titans on Sunday as he continues to discipline presents. 

Forward of Monday’s minicamp session, Invoice Belichick acknowledged that the Patriots have been in touch with Hopkins, though he didn’t have concrete particulars in regards to the logistics of Hopkins’ scheduled go to.

“I’m probably not a journey agent,” Belichick mentioned. “I’m not going to say it’s going to occur right here, or it’s not going to occur.

“There’s loads of different stuff occurring that I’m indirectly concerned in, so I’m not going to say something and then you definately flip round and say I misled you ultimately as a result of that’s not what I’m going to do.”

Regardless of being restricted to 9 video games final season, Hopkins was nonetheless efficient in Arizona — reeling in 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns.

“I’m a fan of D-Hop. It might be cool,” receiver Kendrick Bourne mentioned on Friday about Hopkins’ potential arrival. “I don’t know the gist of what’s occurring, however he is a superb participant. Something that will assist us win, I’m with.”