According to recent reports, free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will travel to Foxborough for a visit with the New England Patriots next week.
There’s quite a few reasons why this potential signing puzzles NFL fans — the first being the presence of D-Hop’s former head coach/GM Bill O’Brien.
Hopkins and O’Brien reportedly had a contentious relationship during their time together with the Houston Texans. That soured relationship ultimately culminated in O’Brien trading the star wide receiver away for next to nothing in January 2020.
O’Brien is now the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.
A DeAndre Hopkins visit to the #Patriots makes sense for a lot of reasons. Here is one: He played for now-Pats OC Bill O’Brien to start his career in Houston and was an All-Pro three times in his offense. A reunion would be fascinating. https://t.co/6SeXk1fVA1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2023
“Does Hopkins like Bill O’brien? I can’t imagine that he does,” one fan wrote.
“Wasn’t Bill O’Brien also the reason he left Houston?” another asked.
“They didn’t end on the best of terms, though,” another said.
“I’m so sure Hop is going to reunite with the racist who hated him and traded him out of HOU,” another added.
But didn’t Billy O trade him for a bag of Cheetos and a jolly rancher bc of baby mama drama??? https://t.co/PCuvzDhi9A pic.twitter.com/9NPNtQvbYT
— Shermo (@Mi5terJone5) June 9, 2023
https://t.co/dv7wtCnypv pic.twitter.com/74Lq7o1fBz
— J-Bo Browne (@Jbo321612) June 9, 2023
Hopkins is an unrestricted free agent following his release from the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason. The 31-year-old wide receiver will be a solid veteran addition for any team looking to add a No. 1 pass catcher.
Hopkins’ visit with the Patriots will come on the heels of his visit with the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.