Free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is set to visit with the New England Patriots sometime next week.
During the media portion of Patriots practice on Friday, veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was asked about the possibility of welcoming D-Hop to the squad this offseason.
“Yeah, I’m a fan of D-Hop,” Bourne said. “It would be cool. I don’t know the gist of what’s going on, but he is a great player. … Anything that would help us win, I’m with.”
“Great player so anything that will help us win… I’m with it.”
Kendrick Bourne on DeAndre Hopkins pic.twitter.com/GWk3GTtUJG
— NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) June 9, 2023
Hopkins was released by the Cardinals earlier this offseason and is now free to sign with whoever he wants. The former Houston Texans superstar had a contentious relationship with now-Patriots OC Bill O’Brien in the past, but that apparently hasn’t stopped him from accepting an invitation from the New England franchise.
Bourne is already entering the 2023 season as a reserve wide receiver option behind projected starters JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton. The addition of Hopkins would only push him further down the wideout depth chart.
Bourne finished the 2022 season with 35 catches for 434 yards and one touchdown.