It’s quiet… too quiet.
Free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins' two-day visit with the Patriots is now three-plus days old, so after a weekend of thinking, theorizing, and thumb-twiddling, here’s an up-to-date timeline of everything that has happened since the visit, as well as a refresh of where things stand with the Patriots and their quest to add the veteran free agent:
Thursday, June 15th - 4:31pm: Hopkins sends Patriots Nation into a frenzy
No real reports come out of the long, two-day visit between Hopkins and the Patriots until late Thursday afternoon - when the pass-catcher himself sends Patriots Nation into a frenzy with the below photo on his Instagram story:
Long-time recruiter and conductor of the "Hopkins to New England" train Matthew Judon is featured by the wide receiver, with a picture of the two of them inside the Patriots locker room.
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Thursday, June 15th - 5:58pm: Hopkins departs Gillette Stadium
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports that the Patriots are “making a push” to sign Hopkins to a contract.
Howe also notes that Hopkins is “still local”.
Thursday, June 15th - 6:16pm: ESPN reports that there is no deal imminent
ESPN’s Mike Reiss, along with NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, publishes a news story on the status of the meeting. The big takeaway being that, “barring an unexpected turn, both sides are now expected to take some time to assess their next steps, according to a source familiar with the visit.”
Fowler adds that Hopkins, “has not been in a rush to sign with a team and has considered waiting until closer to training camp in late July to make a move.”
Friday, June 16th - 2:55pm: Hopkins is out of the area
After Howe’s report of Hopkins remaining “local” it’s found via Instagram that he did in fact leave the New England area and landed in Houston.
As you’ll see, it was a quick stay in Texas:
Friday, June 16th - 5:48pm: Hopkins arrives in Los Angeles
According to his own Instagram story, Hopkins landed in Los Angeles, CA late Friday afternoon.
Some begin to theorize that a visit with the Rams or the Chargers could be on the horizon for the wide receiver, however nothing on the matter has been reported since.
Saturday, June 17th - 3:56pm: More internal recruitment
Patriots defenders Matthew Judon and Mack Wilson tweet the following on Saturday afternoon:
While many thought this meant that a deal for Hopkins was imminent, it led to nothing. More smoke, but no fire (yet).
Sunday, June 18th - 6:00am: More from Mike Reiss
Hopkins leaving the area “doesn’t mean it’s the end of the line for the two sides possibly coming together closer to or into the start of training camp,” according to Mike Reiss.
Reiss also echoed the reporting of NFL Network’s Jason McCourty, who said on Friday that current Patriots players “feel really good about the visit.”
What’s next?
Well, we wait. With reports of Hopkins being in no rush to sign a deal and training camp still roughly five weeks away, it may be later than sooner that the three-time All-Pro in employed in Foxborough.
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