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DeAndre Hopkins has been linked to multiple teams across the league since the Arizona Cardinals made him available on the trade block. Earlier, the New England Patriots emerged as a strong contender to land Hopkins, as Bill Belichick aimed to provide more help for Mac Jones.
However, according to recent reports, the Patriots are no longer interested in pursuing Hopkins. Teams across the league believe the veteran receiver will eat up a large portion of their salary cap, so making a move for him is not a smart option.
As per Jeff Howe of the Athletic:
"With a new Cardinals regime, headed by GM Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon, rival teams know Hopkins would be a salary dump, which significantly reduces his trade value.
"That’s why teams like the Patriots, who had an early conversation with the Cardinals, don’t plan to pursue him unless there’s a substantial change in philosophy, according to a league source."
As per Spotrac, in 2023, Hopkins will earn a base salary of $19,450,000, while carrying a cap hit of $30,750,000 and a dead cap value of $22,600,000.
This is a significant amount of money being offered to a receiver who will be 31 years old once the season starts. Moreover, Hopkins has missed a considerable amount of time in each of the past two seasons, which is why teams aren't aggressively pursuing him.
As for the New England Patriots, they have already signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year deal, and he will hope to become a reliable receiver for Mac Jones. The Patriots could add more firepower to their offense via the draft as well.
DeAndre Hopkins could join another AFC East team
Despite the Patriots not stepping up their interest in DeAndre Hopkins, the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver could still find himself playing in the AFC East.
The Buffalo Bills have emerged as the new strong favorites to land Hopkins, as Josh Allen and Co. look to get better next season. The Kansas City Chiefs have also been linked to Hopkins on a continuous basis, and it will be interesting to see where he ultimately ends up.
Last season, Hopkins had 64 catches for 717 yards and scored three touchdowns in nine games. Hopefully, he will be able to make an impact next season on whichever team he plays on.
