Free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins continues to be in no rush over a decision about his future this offseason in the hope that other suitors could show themselves as training camp nears.
Hopkins, 31, was released by the Arizona Cardinals more than a month ago now and, as one of the top available receivers on the open market, has attracted significant interest this offseason. The five-time Pro Bowler first visited the Tennessee Titans last month before stopping off at the New England Patriots ahead of June turning into July.
He also apparently had an unofficial visit with the Houston Texans, with whom Hopkins spent seven seasons playing before arriving in Arizona. The Kansas City Chiefs are another team said to be keeping in contact with the free agent this summer.
An opportunity to join the defending Super Bowl champions and play alongside Patrick Mahomes would understandably appeal. However, unlike the Patriots and the Titans, there is reportedly no offer in from the Chiefs yet, per ESPN.
Therefore, Hopkins is biding his time to see whether the interest from Kansas City formalizes itself into a contract. Whether they could pay him anywhere near the number he is looking for seems unlikely.
After the Baltimore Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year, $15 million (£12m) contract earlier in the offseason, Hopkins has hinted he is looking for something similar from his next team. Conversely, the Chiefs have the least salary cap space in the league.
They could make a move or two to free up some room this summer, but whether they and Hopkins could make a deal work financially remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Titans are reportedly the most aggressive of the other contenders in their recruiting.
The Patriots, though, have the Bill O'Brien factor in their favour, who returned to New England as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January. He was Hopkins' coach for all but the receiver's rookie year in Houston.
As part of O'Brien's offence, the Clemson product led the league in receiving touchdowns during the 2017 season and was first-team All-Pro in his last three years there before joining the Cardinals. The Pats may be more willing to pay Hopkins than the rest of the field, knowing they would reunite player and coach in Foxborough.
Despite the optics of the front office extending receiver DeVante Parker, it is not set to affect their chances of acquiring Hopkins either way. Parker's three-year deal is incentive-based on producing out on the field.
For Hopkins, committing to a new contract and a new team seems no nearer than when the Cardinals cut him. With training camps across the league starting later this month, the receiver still has a few more weeks to gauge the market before returning to the field this summer and finding a new NFL home before the 2023 season starts.
