Deandre Hopkins Visiting Patriots Next Week

[StrawHatPatriot]

My point is they need to make sure he is a fit for the offensive culture.

Signing "talent" is not a strategy

What does offensive culture even mean? You talking about scheme? DHop is true number #1 option, he'll fit fine. And I rather take the chances that he'll fit the "Patriot way" if it means he's a game changer.

Plus we spent money JuJu Smith-Schuster. It seems like Pats fans love the idea of spending on the "middle class" rather than getting real star talent. Which is weird, because having a team of middle class players doesn't guarantee anything other than mediocrity.

 

[PatsFan2]

Another thing to add to your point: this isn't a long term, 5 year 250 million deal.

It can be a 2 year move.

Someone else pointed out a while back that the Pats roster has a lot of players off the books in 2024. That also aligns with the time you have to make a decision on Mac's 5th year option.

Basically, if the Pats don't make the playoffs, we may have to rebuild snd start over again.

Yes also with D-Hop we'll have a Offense that can pull its own weight against good Teams and Defenses. We ain't playing powder puffs in 2023 go all in and all out.

 

[PatsFan2]

What does offensive culture even mean? You talking about scheme? DHop is true number #1 option, he'll fit fine. And I rather take the chances that he'll fit the "Patriot way" if it means he's a game changer.

Plus we spent money JuJu Smith-Schuster. It seems like Pats fans love the idea of spending on the "middle class" rather than getting real star talent. Which is weird, because having a team of middle class players doesn't guarantee anything other than mediocrity.

Exactly #12 can make that old way work #10 can't. IF we can give that stiff Jonno Smith all that $$$$ off two above average years we can pay the Proven D-Hop.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Patriots official twitter tweeted last that Hopkins will be visiting this week. They just asked Bill about that during his press conference and he said "I don't know about that". Someone followed-up, and he admitted that Hopkins will be visiting, but claimed that he wasn’t sure of the date. “It’s more about logistics. I’m not really a travel agent here.” LOL.

The haters here will hate it, which makes me love it even more. Give them nothing, BB!

 

[PatsFan2]

Patriots official twitter tweeted last that Hopkins will be visiting this week. They just asked Bill about that during his press conference and he said "I don't know about that". Someone followed-up, and he admitted that Hopkins will be visiting, but claimed that he wasn’t sure of the date. “It’s more about logistics. I’m not really a travel agent here.” LOL.

The haters here will hate it, which makes me love it even more. Give them nothing, BB!

Let's hope he doesn't leave without a contract whenever he gets here.

 

[Ross12]

 

[PatsFan2]

But you shop for the groceries D-Hop is a necessity.

 

[Bill Lee]

 

[patfanken]

Pierre Strong
Plus vision, ability to set up blockers, lateral movement and speed. Nice change of direction. Not a dancer but kills you with angles, slight shifts without losing speed. Lots of rec potential. Very natural and i think he could be more utilized in the pros. Perfect for OZ/Stretch/off-tackle, wind back, counter. Tons of college production. 4.38 speed.

I really don't think we need Dalvin with Strong and Harris. Both popped and looked good. We have a solid track record. Bring in Hop.

Before I posted the Cooks idea, I thought about Strong. The Pats drafted him with the hope he might be a Cooks at his best or at least a JWhite. So I understand your point BGC. But here's the thing. Delvin Cook has been making plays like you showed in your clips against NFL caliber defenses for 4 or 5 years. And while impressive,, Strong's clips were against MUCH lesser talent in the FCS.

I know RB's , when they come to NE, rarely show what they can do until the 2nd year, Maybe, if he ends up being the #2, he will blossom like so many other good RB's in the past. BUT Cooks is a sure thing.

That being said, it was just a spur of the moment thought, one that has about a 1% chance of happening anyway

 

[SlowGettingUp]

If Hopkins really wanted to come to the Pats, what would he have said he wanted in a team?

Super Bowl contender? Nope
Star QB? Nope
Stable management? Yes
Hard working QB? Yes
Great Defense? Yes

What did he actually say?

Super Bowl contender? Nope
Star QB? Nope
Stable management? Yes
Hard working QB? Yes
Great Defense? Yes

 

[TommyD4207]

Why didn't Vrabel get D-hop signed? Is this a bad sign? Way to much money? Titans 11 million under the cap right?

11 isn't going to get it done. That's Jakobi Meyers money.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Before I posted the Cooks idea, I thought about Strong. The Pats drafted him with the hope he might be a Cooks at his best or at least a JWhite. So I understand your point BGC. But here's the thing. Delvin Cook has been making plays like you showed in your clips against NFL caliber defenses for 4 or 5 years. And while impressive,, Strong's clips were against MUCH lesser talent in the FCS.

I know RB's , when they come to NE, rarely show what they can do until the 2nd year, Maybe, if he ends up being the #2, he will blossom like so many other good RB's in the past. BUT Cooks is a sure thing.

That being said, it was just a spur of the moment thought, one that has about a 1% chance of happening anyway

Yup I understand. I just do not want to pay Cooks while we already have a RB1 in Rham on a cheap deal.

Also to your point about competition. The RB position translates the easiest from college to pros. They come in and produce sooner than anyone else.

I'm a proven pro > college/draft picks guy. I'll always take the proven commodity but this is a unique case and RB is a different animal. With Rham being so good and cheap. Harris and Strong looking good last year. I would hate paying Cooks.

Out of the two you'd prefer Hopkins, no? He'd obviously have the biggest impact, no? Where are you on him?

 

[RobertWeathers]

What does offensive culture even mean? You talking about scheme? DHop is true number #1 option, he'll fit fine. And I rather take the chances that he'll fit the "Patriot way" if it means he's a game changer.

Simple. If hes not going to "practice", ***** about touches, not run precise routs aka freelance or miss a good chunk of the games he is not a fit.

Plus we spent money JuJu Smith-Schuster. It seems like Pats fans love the idea of spending on the "middle class" rather than getting real star talent. Which is weird, because having a team of middle class players doesn't guarantee anything other than mediocrity.

They've been that way for 20+ years. Only do they land true WR1s is when they are avail on the cheap.

It's not weird if they think he is a better fit for the offense.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Rob do we have any WR on this current Roster in D-Hop's league?? I didn't think so D-Hop is a no brainer signing for the Pats.

I'm all for D-Hop coming here as long as he doesn't freelance, has a manageable cap #, plays 80% of the games and doesn't ***** about touches when the team wins.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Not even close Hopkins is proven he could be the difference with us being Contenders or not. We are pretenders without him. I want us the Contend for the Division not Third place also BB is not getting younger now is the time.

I'm not sure they are contenders with D-Hop.

 

[PatsFan2]

I'm not sure they are contenders with D-Hop.

Really?? a true proven vet who could open up things for Juju and our TEs. Juju will be more effective with a guy like D-Hop drawing coverage. Juju will not be effective with Bourne and Parker. D-Hop will be the best WR Mac has played with since he entered the league.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Really?? a true proven vet who could open up things for Juju and our TEs. Juju will be more effective with a guy like D-Hop drawing coverage. Juju will not be effective with Bourne and Parker. D-Hop will be the best WR Mac has played with since he entered the league.

A contender means they have a legitimate shot winning the Super Bowl.

Sorry. I don't put the NEP in that category w/ D-Hop.

Playoff team? Absolutely.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

 

[patfanken]

Yup I understand. I just do not want to pay Cooks while we already have a RB1 in Rham on a cheap deal.

Also to your point about competition. The RB position translates the easiest from college to pros. They come in and produce sooner than anyone else.

I'm a proven pro > college/draft picks guy. I'll always take the proven commodity but this is a unique case and RB is a different animal. With Rham being so good and cheap. Harris and Strong looking good last year. I would hate paying Cooks.

Out of the two you'd prefer Hopkins, no? He'd obviously have the biggest impact, no? Where are you on him?

On Hopkins, I thought I was pretty clear on him. At first I thought no way for all the reasons everyone knows. THEN when it was revealed that he was coming for a visit, a lot of negativity about Hopkins' prior thoughts about the Pats went away and I warmed up a bit. While he duplicates a skill set much like Parker's, he is the better and more reliable of the 2 receivers.

I'm OK with the top 4 receivers we have (Parker, Bourne, JJ, and Thornton, adding Hopkins upgrades in talent and improves the depth even more. (I expect neither the 2 WR's we drafted will make the final 53 and be on the PS) So adding him at a market price for a 31 year old "possession" receiver is a no brainer. And while I'm OK with the receivers we have currently I'm not thrilled about them either. That is where the Cooks thought came from. What the offense lacks, imo, is any EXPLOSIVENESS. A Hopkins addition, at around $15MM/yr, makes our "move the chains" offense better, but doesn't add any more explosiveness. Cooks would and at roughly 2 thirds of the cost.

Now I agree that Strong COULD be that guy, but that is just a hope at this point, Cooks makes it a certitude. Rham is great runner too, but these days you really need two #1's for that long haul schedule. Plus we have all bewailed the lack of a true impactful 3rd down RB receiving threat. In Cooks we solve that problem

Think about it. IF Hopkins signs, and IF he is good as advertised, he will catch a lot of balls and get 10-12 targets a game. and average 70-80 ypg If you sign Cooks you would likely get a similar amount of total yardage (say 12-1500yds) with Cooks getting around 18- 20 touches a game (say 12 carries and 5 receiving targets. But its NOT about the yardage. It's about creating a couple of more "explosive" plays a game. And Cooks is that guy every time he touches the ball. You know better than most that it is HARD to score when you are driving the ball 70+ yds WITHOUT an "explosive play" (20+ yds)

Hey, we have the room why not get them both. But if Hopkins signs with Tennessee as I suspect, I'd be banging the table for Cooks.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Who is Cooks? Are we talking about Dalvin Cook?