Free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is scheduled to visit the Patriots over the coming days to determine if he can become a fit, and eventually sign, with New England.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the visit is expected to take place on Wednesday and Thursday. The star pass catcher’s market seems to be smaller than expected, with his only reported visits so far being with Tennessee and New England.
Jones and Mego: If we do not get D Hop should we be worried about the Pats offense?
So where should he sign? ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky says the Patriots should be his top choice. Here’s his explanation from The Pat McAfee Show on Monday:
“If I was DHOP and I could choose to where I would go... number one: New England,” said the former NFL quarterback. “As long as he thinks Mac Jones is a good player. New England has nobody on the perimeter that’s really going to scare you.”
Orlovsky continued: “I think that it’s is a huge year for Mac, I think Bill O’Brien has a great feel for what Hop excels at. He doesn’t have to get him open, he just has to get him 1-on-1’s.”
The Patriots receiver room has been thin so far this offseason. Although they signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $33 million contract in March, he’s been relatively inactive for the team so far due to a lingering knee injury. Second-year wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has also been limited with a “soft-tissue-related injury.”
This has left DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne taking the majority of the reps as starters through OTAs and minicamp. Although both are capable NFL receivers, they're better off as two’s or three’s in an offensive system - not the number one options.
Tell me if you've heard this before: the addition of Hopkins would add a bonafide No. 1 option for Mac Jones and Bill O'Brien to work with. The three-time All-Pro would at least give them insurance in the room, especially given the injury bug that's running through the guts of Gillette Stadium.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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