DeAndre Hopkins seems prepared to play the waiting game in free agency
It’s been almost a month since free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins visited the Patriots. New England was his second and to this point final stop on his free agency tour, after first going to Nashville to meet with the Tennessee Titans.
Since that point, all has been relatively quiet with Hopkins. Outside of a post on Threads about eating Clam Chowder in Boston, the updates have pretty consistently been that there is no update.
While some may assume that’s because all the parties involved are keeping things close to the chest, it sounds more like Hopkins is truly taking his time with his decision. ESPN’s Mike Reiss was the latest to detail that in his Sunday notes column this week.
“Hopkins hasn’t been in a rush to sign,” Reiss writes. “One reason for Hopkins to wait a bit longer is to leave open the possibility of another team entering the mix, potentially increasing his market.”
That last part is the great variable in Hopkins’ free agency right now. While the Patriots and Titans are the only teams to make Hopkins – who is reportedly prioritizing a payday with his next contract – official offers, other teams could become more desperate and more inclined as circumstances change come training camp. That could happen due to a number of factors from poor performance to player injuries.
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As for the teams currently in play, Reiss noted that ” the Titans have been more aggressive to this point” when it comes to angling Hopkins post-visit. So while Hopkins is playing the waiting game, the Patriots may be doing the same thing on their end.
However, Reiss did add that “if it remains between the Titans and Patriots, one question Hopkins might have to ask himself is which team gives him a better chance to cash in on incentives and maximize his earnings. Given his proven production in Bill O’Brien’s offense from their time together with the Houston Texans, perhaps that would give New England an edge.”
So it seems like, at least for now, the waiting will continue with Hopkins. After his free agency built to a crescendo in mid-June with his week of visits, it’s now turning into a marathon.
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Free agent cornerbacks who could help the Patriots
Marcus Peters
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) in the third quarter during an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA TODAY Network)
Peters, 30, is easily the best cornerback available right now. There was a report last week he could sign with the Raiders, but to this point no deal has gotten done.
Coming off of a torn ACL that cost him the entirety of the 2021 season, he bounced back with a serviceable season for the Ravens last year. At 6-foot, 197 pounds he’s been a boundary cornerback for his full NFL career.
While Peters is no longer the All-Pro player he was early in his career with the Chiefs, the fact he’s still available suggests he may still be looking for that kind of money. The Patriots probably aren’t looking to spend big at cornerback right now – especially if they’re still making a push for DeAndre Hopkins – but if his price comes down he’s the guy they should call if they feel they need external help.
There’s reason to think the Patriots would be interested in Peters too. They have a history of signing players who play well against them, and Peters’ Week 2 performance against the Patriots last year was his best game of the season per PFF. He allowed just one catch on four targets on 42 coverage snaps, and had an interception.
Terrance Mitchell
Nov 13, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) intercepts a pass in the end zone during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Nissan Stadium. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mitchell, 31, actually spent last summer with the Patriots, and had a pretty solid training camp performance. He ended up just off the roster though, and was initially placed on the practice squad. The Titans then signed him off the Patriots’ practice squad in late September, and he appeared in 11 games for them, making five starts.
Would a reunion between Mitchell and the Patriots make sense? One big help for him would be the fact that he’s already familiar with the Patriots’ defensive system. Compared to the other players on this list, he wouldn’t need nearly as much time to catch up and should be able to hit the ground running in training camp.
Fabian Moreau
Dec 11, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants cornerback Fabian Moreau (37) during the second quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots would like Moreau’s versatility – he’s played significant snaps at boundary corner, slot corner, and box safety in his career. Last year with the Giants though he was nearly a full-time boundary corner, playing out wide 84 percent of the time.
At 6-foot, 200 pounds Moreau, 29, should be able to play multiple spots for the Patriots. He could bolster their boundary cornerback depth while filling in elsewhere fitting the mold of their ‘positionless’ secondary. If the Patriots signed him, they could get creative mixing-and-matching looks with him and Jalen Mills, who will likely be in a similar role if he doesn’t move to the outside full-time.
Brian Allen
Apr 23, 2022; Birmingham, AL, USA; Birmingham Stallions defensive back Brian Allen (29) celebrates an interception return for a touchdown against the Houston Gamblers during the fist half at Protective Stadium. Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Allen, 29, has spent the last two years as one of, if not the best, cornerback in the USFL. With their season wrapping up in two weeks, he’s about to become a free agent once again.
A fifth-round pick by the Steelers in 2017, Allen has plenty of NFL experience too. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds he brings tremendous size to the position. The Patriots have signed out of the spring leagues in the past, so it’s not unrealistic to think they could look there again.
