Free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins left his Patriots visit Thursday without a deal, according to reports, though his time with coaches and players was “productive,” per The Athletic.
Both sides are expected to evaluate their options over the near future, according to ESPN, which adds Hopkins “has not been in a rush” to sign with a new team. Thursday’s visit was Hopkins’ second after he traveled Monday to Tennessee. The three-time All-Pro has no other known visits and could opt to sign closer to training camp in late July.
During his New England visit, Hopkins posted a picture of himself and Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon from the team’s locker room. He added the words “La Familia,” a nod to their friendship. Two days earlier, Judon opted to steer clear of the Hopkins conversation while other teammates endorsed the idea of signing him.
“DeAndre Hopkins is a free agent. If I know him as a friend or as a confidant it doesn’t matter,” Judon said. “He’s a great player. He did amazing things and wherever he lands, he lands. If it’s here, it’s here. Then we can talk about him.”
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was one of those players who approved of adding Hopkins, saying the team would “love to have him.”
“I think DeAndre is a great player. You watch his film from college all the way through the NFL, he’s done a great job. So obviously we’d love to have him, but we do have a great group of guys,” Jones said at the start of minicamp. “I’ve been really pleased with the playmakers we have on the team; we’ve come out here and really bought into the system.
“We have a good group and I feel like we need to keep growing together and whoever is in that room, we’re going to try to dominate together.”
Earlier in the week, Bill Belichick confirmed the team had interest in Hopkins but declined to offer specifics. Last December, before the Patriots played against Hopkins in Arizona, NFL Films caught Belichick telling the star receiver: “I’m glad we only have to play you every four years, man. What a career you’re having.”
Hopkins replied: “I love you, man.”
Over nine games last year, Hopkins caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns. He has four 1,000-yard seasons over the past six years. Hopkins started his career in Houston from 2013-19, including a six-year stretch under current Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, and spent the last three seasons in Arizona.
The Patriots will end their offseason program on Friday. Coaches and players will take a four-week break before the staff returns in mid-July to prepare for training camp. Players will report in the final week of the month to begin practicing.
