New England Patriots star Matthew Judon teased the signing of DeAndre Hopkins by commenting he is "GM of the year" on a photo of the duo in the Pats locker room.
Hopkins - who worked under Pats offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien in Houston - became a free agent when the Arizona Cardinals sensationally released him in late May. While the Cardinals wanted compensation in a trade package for Hopkins, they received no worthwhile offers and decided to completely sever their ties with the five-time Pro Bowler ahead of the 2023 season.
Hopkins is renowned for his incredible catching ability in clutch moments, and his availability has garnered attention from franchises around the NFL. The Patriots are in desperate need of a true number one receiving weapon to help out quarterback Mac Jones and become more of a threat in the competitive AFC East.
Hopkins’ ability to win contested catches and create separation would undoubtedly give the Patriots a reliable target in crucial situations. Judon, who has been a vocal proponent in engineering a move for Hopkins, appeared to suggest a move could be imminent after the All-Pro visited New England this week.
His visit to the Pats was reportedly ‘positive for both parties’ and Hopkins posted a picture of he and Judon to Instagram. In response to the pic, the star outside linebacker tweeted: “GM of the year?”
While some believed O’Brien’s relationship with Hopkins would hinder New England’s chances of signing the receiver, it appears to not be a problem for either side. Hopkins would be a major addition to an offensive unit that ranked 26th in total yards per game and 17th in points per game, compared to the defense which ranked eighth and 11th in both categories in both respective categories last year.
However, the former Clemson star has spoken of his desire to win a ring and play with a league-leading quarterback. Mac Jones has enjoyed an inconsistent start to his career, and he floundered in 2022 following an encouraging rookie season - he threw for just 2,997 yards and 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions as the Pats stammered to an 8-9 record.
The Patriots struggled on offense as the team finished 32nd in red zone efficiency as well as 26th in total offensive yards per game. Hopkins has tallied 72 touchdowns in his NFL career, and his nose for the end zone would prove valuable in New England.
Hopkins starred for the Cardinals after joining the team from the Houston Texans via trade ahead of the 2020 season. He collected 64 receptions for 717 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 even with a suspension for the first six games following a positive test for an illegal performance-enhancing substance.
