Deandre Hopkins Visiting Patriots Next Week

[Zuma]

I like the double-TE look because of the versatility it brings; but... I'm concerned about its effectiveness here because neither Gesicki nor Double-H are very good blockers, at all. It wouldn't shock me to see fewer of those formations as the season progresses...

FWIW Gesicki has been with the WR's doing drills...not the TE's, I think of him as a WR. Firkser can block and I think he will be the 2nd / 3rd TE / HB (he can catch as well).

 

[patfanken]

Very interesting and well thought out thread by all parties who posted thus far. NICE to see a good football talk thread.

I have to admit I'm a bit surprised he's making the Pats his 2nd visit. Could be an agent's attempt to try and boost his market appearance. Could be he's serious about coming here. One thing for certain, it make this a VERY interesting day.

In my mind here are the facts we KNOW are certain:

1. Even a deal at around $15MM on a 3 year deal, the Pats can fit that in. When he eventually signs, I'm pretty sure his 2023 cap number will end up being around $5MM moving the bulk of his salary into years where they have more room. So cap space is NOT an impediment to signing him

2. He would make the Pats WR's better. His skill as a receiver has NEVER been an issue. I think the questions are his age, his health, and would he make the offense better LONG term. (BTW- LT is about 3 years in NFL reality) I think I read in this thread that he averages 10 targets a game. On a team that will likely throw the ball 30-35 times a game that doesn't leave much to the rest of the receiver threats. Just adding a a thought,

Those are the things we know for sure. We can afford to sign him and he's be an upgrade to the receiving corps AND he's slow the development of the young receivers we have on the current roster.

My very unofficial thoughts on this is that, like Tennessee, he's going to leave here without a contract. We will offer him a VERY competitive financial deal, BUT it will be lower in guaranteed money and high on playing time, production, and team success incentives. So he will end up moving on to the next team.

I'm NOT worried about the practice thing, if he signs here, because he will know up front what is expected. So signing the deal will be a clear understanding on both sides what they will expect to see. Hopkins will practice hard, and Bill will give him his veteran's rest days on occasion

I also think that signing him makes Parker redundant. I think Giseki and Henry are going to get a lot of looks in this offense, so the number of times we are going to have 3 WR's on the field at the same time will be lessened. This will make a LOT more sense to me if we simply sign Hopkins and release/trade Parker (BTW- anyone know the cap consequences of a Parker release?)

The last thing I think is that a Hopkins, JJ, Thornton, Bourne first 4 is a MARGINALLY better WR group. I DON'T think that adding Hopkins is some seismic leap Just a little bit better at WR, which is good

 

[Real fan 02]

Don’t let him leave without a contract!

Hop has raved about BB and how he'd love to play for him. Hope that it comes to fruition. If he signs his presence makes us a dangerous offense. He'd likely carry coverage and juju and the the TEs will do work in the middle of the field!

 

[patfanken]

FWIW Gesicki has been with the WR's doing drills...not the TE's, I think of him as a WR. Firkser can block and I think he will be the 2nd / 3rd TE / HB (he can catch as well).

The truth of the matter is that Gesiki is NOT a TE, he's a Joker. BTW- I really like that term to describe the kind of position that guys like Kelce and Gesiki play. They are NOT TE's, and not really WR's. Joker is a good descriptive for what these guys do.

 

[Real fan 02]

FWIW Gesicki has been with the WR's doing drills...not the TE's, I think of him as a WR. Firkser can block and I think he will be the 2nd / 3rd TE / HB (he can catch as well).

I saw that also if Gesicki is being used as a WR that likely means a WR is on the outside.. I know can't take anything really from OTAs but KB has been with Mac and the 1st team offense. I hope KB isn't the odd man out.

 

[patsinthesnow]

So why did they cut him then? Could this be a Moss situation where the team wrongly thought he was washed up but still have one to two good seasons left in him?

The cards have the lowest win total in the NFL at 4.5. They have a new GM and aren’t intending to compete based on trading for a future first in the draft & cutting Hopkins before june 1st to absorb his cap hit this season IMO.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Wonder what the odds are of him just signing in Tennessee and not having any other visits.

he saw levis and immediately left town

 

[Wozzy]

I’d like to get Hopkins, it would be a nice luxury signing. But he and Parker play the same position and would be redundant, I want one or the other… not both.

Your best 3 WR lineup is Hopkins/Parker, Thornton playing deep and Juju in the slot.

 

[DarrylS]

My response is not to you but to Beer he must be drinking again.

At 7:30 in the AM?? Not sure of the veracity, but more about how he will fit as a player into this system and who is odd man out.

 

[Real fan 02]

The cards have the lowest win total in the NFL at 4.5. They have a new GM and aren’t intending to compete based on trading for a future first in the draft & cutting Hopkins before june 1st to absorb his cap hit this season IMO.

It does feel like the moss situation in a sense. Moss was thought to have been washed. However came here and reminded the league he wasn't. I do hope D hop can sign here. He has said on many occasions he'd love to play for BB.

He would make this offense elite his presence and everyone else we have.

 

[Pacific Coast Patriot]

I'd rather stack the WR room to cover for the inevitable injuries, than be too thin and wheel out practise squad guys again.

It's always "cant wait til we have all those guys out there together" but the reality of the NFL is that at least 1-2 of them are injured simultaneously at different points of the season.

 

[captain stone]

I also think that signing him makes Parker redundant. I think Giseki and Henry are going to get a lot of looks in this offense, so the number of times we are going to have 3 WR's on the field at the same time will be lessened. This will make a LOT more sense to me if we simply sign Hopkins and release/trade Parker (BTW- anyone know the cap consequences of a Parker release?)

The last thing I think is that a Hopkins, JJ, Thornton, Bourne first 4 is a MARGINALLY better WR group. I DON'T think that adding Hopkins is some seismic leap Just a little bit better at WR, which is good

Then why rid yourself of Parker if you can afford to keep both?

Now if, after Hopkins signs here, we need to make room for a Jonah Williams acquisition later, then if Parker has to go so be it.

 

[captain stone]

FWIW Gesicki has been with the WR's doing drills...not the TE's, I think of him as a WR. Firkser can block and I think he will be the 2nd / 3rd TE / HB (he can catch as well).

The truth of the matter is that Gesiki is NOT a TE, he's a Joker. BTW- I really like that term to describe the kind of position that guys like Kelce and Gesiki play. They are NOT TE's, and not really WR's. Joker is a good descriptive for what these guys do.

If Hopkins signs here and Gesicki is still practicing with the WRs more than with the TEs... then we need another TE.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I smell what you're cooking... But...

Mac - and by extension the NEP - needs help Now. Slogging through yet another below-.500 season isn't going to do anybody any good, vets & kids alike. This season is a crossroad not just for him but for the franchise as well; one year from now we will either have had his option picked-up and an extension will be in the works, or we will have a Dead Man Walking at both QB & HC/Grocery-Shopper, if either of them make it that far.
Signing Hopkins should make that decision more clear; and I don't want to leave any doubt in either direction.

It's counter-intuitive to worry more about the development of Booty & BoneyT - two stiffs whom I would never, EVER have drafted where they were taken anyway - than about Mac's... If we had Pickens/Pierce & AT Perry, on the other hand...

Hopkins - JuJu - Parker
Dawghouse - Double-D - BoneyT/Booty

I agree with Crawhammer that acquiring Hopkins should Not mean the release of Parker; we can't afford to lose Any decent WR!

I agree. Glad to see that someone reads posts by Crawhammer.

What about "5 wide"? Would Mac be able to quickly diagnose the mismatches and hit the hot receiver? We will have 5 good, not great, receivers. Will the defense have 5 good DBs to match?

 

[moosekill]

At 7:30 in the AM?? Not sure of the veracity, but more about how he will fit as a player into this system and who is odd man out.

Right, like anyone would ever drink at 730 in the morning. Can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning.

 

[BTTA]

The last thing I think is that a Hopkins, JJ, Thornton, Bourne first 4 is a MARGINALLY better WR group. I DON'T think that adding Hopkins is some seismic leap Just a little bit better at WR, which is good

Perhaps on paper, but on the field? Doesn't that shift the coverage enough that everyone "below" Hopkins gets a more advantageous assignment? And the mixtures that other teams will have to prepare for, with the additions of Gesecki and Hopkins? Isn't that a significant leap forward?

Not arguing, just asking your thoughts.

 

[Fuzz]

havent seen this posted recently, but think its relevant:
From Cardinals game last season:

 

[Hyped]

Sign me up for some D-Hops!

I say offer him a 2 year 38M deal with a 18M signing bonus. With NLTBE incentives for another 4-5 million....(e.g. lead league in receiving, making the AFC title game, making the SB, and winning the SB).

Year 1: 3M salary + 9M prorated bonus = 12M cap number.
Year 2: 17M salary + 9M prorated bonus = 26M cap number.

We can cut ties in 2024 and easily absorb the 9M prorated signing bonus portion or extend Hopkins again. We will have the 4th/5th most cap space in the league by then.

DeVante Parker has a ~5M cap number....if we sign D-Hop, he might not make it out of camp....that is another 5M of cap space for in-season signings....

D-Hop is a guy that is OPEN when he is NOT OPEN...doesn't matter...the man will make plays.

 

[Real fan 02]

Perhaps on paper, but on the field? Doesn't that shift the coverage enough that everyone "below" Hopkins gets a more advantageous assignment? And the mixtures that other teams will have to prepare for, with the additions of Gesecki and Hopkins? Isn't that a significant leap forward?

Not arguing, just asking your thoughts.

I believe with hop, he'd draw the opposition's best CB.. wich in turn would be then advantageous for other player's as juju, Parker, Thornton or KB would get the 3rd or 4th CB .. I'd absolutely agree I don't think gesecki gets enough credit the guys a playmaker at TE. He is absolutely what we need! Adding a D-Hop would allow us to become an elite offense.

 

[Hyped]

I believe with hop, he'd draw the opposition's best CB.. wich in turn would be then advantageous for other player's as juju, Parker, Thornton or KB would get the 3rd or 4th CB .. I'd absolutely agree I don't think gesecki gets enough credit the guys a playmaker at TE. He is absolutely what we need! Adding a D-Hop would allow us to become an elite offense.

Not sure he would take CB1 though. It depends on the CB. Hopkins is more of a boundary/sideline receiver vs. a speedster that takes the top off the D. But either way...he'll command a lot of attention...but probably a CB2 and a safety/linebacker. Just what we need though...Thorton can take the top off...Gesicki/Schuster/Bourne can kill it from the slots....