Deandre Hopkins Visiting Patriots Next Week

[PatsFan2]

It makes zero sense for an interested team to wait, and it's at best debatable if waiting benefits Hopkins. I'm very surprised by the "makes sense for all sides" statement.

Jonno Smith is off the books we more than enough $$$$$ to sign D-Hop no excuses.

 

[XLIX]

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Yes he does the opportunity to play with the Great Mac 10.

If Mac is going to become the "Great Mac 10," he's going to have to learn to dink and dunk in 98% of his throws. That's what the Patriots offense is all about. Short to intermediate routes and work your way down the field.

 

[scott99]

Setting the all time NCAA accuracy record at Alabama doesn't mean that he can throw accurately in the NFL. Any good QB would have set records at Alabama with those receivers.

It’s interesting you mentioned “those receivers” at Alabama. Mac had Ruggs, Waddle, Jeudy and Smith, the year BEFORE he set those accuracy records. The year he set them, he had Smith and Waddle, and lost Waddle in game 3 or 4 to an ankle injury I believe, so he really targeted Smith a lot. DESPITE losing Waddle, Mac was incredible the rest of the year, Alabama going 13-0 and with Mac breaking the NCAA record for yards in a championship game, and tying the record for td passes.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Dude needs to make a decision already. It won't be good for him or any team he chooses to sign late. If he starts playing games, Bill should just move on.

 

[Kasmir]

It’s interesting you mentioned “those receivers” at Alabama. Mac had Ruggs, Waddle, Jeudy and Smith, the year BEFORE he set those accuracy records. The year he set them, he had Smith and Waddle, and lost Waddle in game 3 or 4 to an ankle injury I believe, so he really targeted Smith a lot. DESPITE losing Waddle, Mac was incredible the rest of the year, Alabama going 13-0 and with Mac breaking the NCAA record for yards in a championship game, and tying the record for td passes.

I was being sarcastic BTW. I'm a fan of Mac's and hope he regains his form this year.

 

[BadMoFo]

Dude needs to make a decision already. It won't be good for him or any team he chooses to sign late. If he starts playing games, Bill should just move on.

Chill. He's been a free agent for a little over two weeks and has visited one team and is currently visiting a second. No need to rush.

 

[jimnance]

Mac 1.0 was okay to v good his rookie year.
Mac 2.0 sucked his sophomore year.
This year we’re on to Mac 3.0, waiting to see how he does. But can he even wear that number?

I think 12 is available

 

[cmasspatsfan]

As others have alluded to above, it probably won't happen today. Hopkins has nothing to gain by agreeing to sign with the Pats immediately.


There aren't many teams with enough $ left to sign him. If he doesn't like his options, he should just sign a 1-year deal with someone and then sign with whomever he wants next year.

2025 NFL Team Salary Cap Tracker

A real-time look at the 2025 salary cap totals for each NFL team, including estimated cap space.

www.spotrac.com

There's a risk if he does that and gets hurt again. I would think he'd try and maximize his value right now.

 

[jimnance]

It makes zero sense for an interested team to wait, and it's at best debatable if waiting benefits Hopkins. I'm very surprised by the "makes sense for all sides" statement.

Waiting benefits Hopkins. He has the leverage right now not the Patriots. But it's a cat and mouse game. Hopkins can lose leverage if he wants too long.
Now if the Pats come at him right away with their best offer, which they never do, might make sense for him to sign it,depending on what Tits offered.

 

[Real fan 02]

Yes he does the opportunity to play with the Great Mac 10.

 

[patfanken]

This is an interesting strategy by Hopkins and his agent.

There ARE some good reasons why he should sign now (say in the next 2 weeks) It gives him more time to get into the playbook and become accustomed to the language and the types of routes he's likely to run. Gives him time to familiarize himself to his teammates, especially the QB more than he would than if he just shows up day one of TC.

But the biggest one in my mind is this. Hop is going to be a relatively big ticket item regardless of where he signs. ($15MM/yr) The fact is that as of TODAY teams will have more cap space to spend than they will come the end of July. If a team who is courting Hopkins like the Pats, decide to bring in another player, let's say Delvin Cook, then the money starts to dry up, and while you can always cook the books on a low cap first year, you EVENTUALLY have to pay the piper. For a guy who is going to get just a 2 or 3 year deal the team he signs with is going to have to have SOME cap room this year and more in 24.

I'm not sure I see the benefit of waiting. It is not like someone is likely to be injured. From now until TC players are going to be vacationing and preparing for the rigors of a LONG season. The longer he waits the longer teams will have a chance to get more comfortable with their current rosters and the players on it.

I just don't see how he gets more money or rest by doing it this way. If I'm the Pats, I'd make him a fair market offer and tell him its good until Monday at 4pm After that there will be no promises and negotiations will start fresh.

On the plus side, when you think on it, there hasn't exactly been a big rush by contending teams to bring Hop in. In fact the silence has kind of been deafening I don't see his market INCREASING over the next 5 weeks, it might even lessen. Come July a 3 year $45MM incentive laden deal with 20 guaranteed might look mighty good. But that being said, it only takes one team.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

I'm not sure I see the benefit of waiting.

I think it depends on whether there is a third team with significant interest or not. If there is, bidding between three teams is better for him than two.

But your idea of a time-limited offer by the Pats is a good counter to that.

Today they can show him the facility - hopefully they can put some sort of barrier up so he doesn't see "the hill."

 

[Patsgofor4]

Making us wait for news about him is cruel. Why don’t they consider the fact that I have no patience when it comes to potential Patriots signings? Get a move on!

 

[VJCPatriot]

Patriots have Hokpkins on a 2 day visit, they can't let him leave to another team. SIGN the Beast while you have the chance!

 

[jimnance]

This is an interesting strategy by Hopkins and his agent.

There ARE some good reasons why he should sign now (say in the next 2 weeks) It gives him more time to get into the playbook and become accustomed to the language and the types of routes he's likely to run. Gives him time to familiarize himself to his teammates, especially the QB more than he would than if he just shows up day one of TC.

But the biggest one in my mind is this. Hop is going to be a relatively big ticket item regardless of where he signs. ($15MM/yr) The fact is that as of TODAY teams will have more cap space to spend than they will come the end of July. If a team who is courting Hopkins like the Pats, decide to bring in another player, let's say Delvin Cook, then the money starts to dry up, and while you can always cook the books on a low cap first year, you EVENTUALLY have to pay the piper. For a guy who is going to get just a 2 or 3 year deal the team he signs with is going to have to have SOME cap room this year and more in 24.

I'm not sure I see the benefit of waiting. It is not like someone is likely to be injured. From now until TC players are going to be vacationing and preparing for the rigors of a LONG season. The longer he waits the longer teams will have a chance to get more comfortable with their current rosters and the players on it.

I just don't see how he gets more money or rest by doing it this way. If I'm the Pats, I'd make him a fair market offer and tell him its good until Monday at 4pm After that there will be no promises and negotiations will start fresh.

On the plus side, when you think on it, there hasn't exactly been a big rush by contending teams to bring Hop in. In fact the silence has kind of been deafening I don't see his market INCREASING over the next 5 weeks, it might even lessen. Come July a 3 year $45MM incentive laden deal with 20 guaranteed might look mighty good. But that being said, it only takes one team.

Like I said,Ken, waiting NOW helps Hopkins- but not for long, for the reasons you mentioned and others.
If the Pats make him an offer with a time limit- that would be their best offer- something rarely done right away by teams because you've painted yourself into a corner. But if it's a strong offer,then it would probably be smart for DHop to take it,unless Tenn. offered substantially more. So there's some risk on the Patriots to make that offer assuming they really want him. I don't know Titans cap/$$ situation. But I'm confident DHop would sign with NE even if Tenn offer was better but not substantially better. NE has a better situation right now.
Right now it doesnt look like teams are falling over themselves to sign him,but that can change.
Belichick has no way of knowing what Tenn offered so I think if he wants a short time limit,he needs to make a strong offer to have success. I'd try to keep it to 2 yrs over 3. Even upping the yearly value a little as a tradeoff. Should be some incentives involved.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Belichick has no way of knowing what Tenn offered

Hopkins agent or Hopkins himself can tell BB what the Titans offered. Offers for NFL contracts commonly are all in the same ballpark because the agent and player state what they are looking for. Before Hopkins arrived, both parties would have pre-agreed on at least a range of what would be an acceptable offer, otherwise it is not worth anyone's time for the visit. The Titans must be close too.

 

[RIpats88]

Hmm...

 

[jimnance]

Hopkins agent or Hopkins himself can tell BB what the Titans offered. Offers for NFL contracts commonly are all in the same ballpark because the agent and player state what they are looking for. Before Hopkins arrived, both parties would have pre-agreed on at least a range of what would be an acceptable offer, otherwise it is not worth anyone's time for the visit. The Titans must be close too.

That's not how you negotiate.
Hopkins & agent are not telling BB what they were offered by another team.
How does that help them? It doesn't.
Of course all parties have a range in mind. Goes w/o saying.
DHop should/probably will, wait to see what Pats offer first. Then proceed from there. He and his agent can respond with any counter offer, which we can assume would be minor tweaks to items like guaranteed $, incentives years.
Lol man,nobody would ever hire you as an agent.

 

[crownontherocks]