Veteran broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins stays a free agent as NFL gamers start training-camp exercises.
Hopkins previously made it identified he “would like to play for a competitor if that point got here.” Thus, it wasn’t all that stunning to be taught on Friday that he was spending time with a New England Patriots aspect that’s coming off a visit to the Tremendous Bowl.
Nevertheless, it seems Hopkins is probably not catching passes thrown by quarterback Drake Maye in September.
DeAndre Hopkins serious about retirement?
Per Mark Daniels of MassLive, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed on Friday that Hopkins is with the membership to assist decide what he could wish to do every time he calls time on his enjoying profession.
“DeAndre Hopkins is right here with us type of in …simply to type of examine issues out so far as what he desires to do so far as teaching, and also you’ll see him on the sphere and whether or not that’s personnel,” Vrabel defined. “And so I exploit him for instance as a result of he wasn’t the quickest receiver, however he had an unbelievable play fashion and a play power and route craft that allowed him to succeed.”
Hopkins, 34, has earned 5 complete Professional Bowl and 5 All-Professional nods throughout his profession, which started when the Houston Texans grabbed him within the first spherical of the 2013 NFL Draft. Most just lately, he recorded 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns over 17 video games with the Baltimore Ravens final season.
It is unclear how a lot curiosity, if any, he has acquired from groups in want of assist on the place since March.
“[Hopkins] and I talked, and he requested if he might come hang around for a pair days and be across the coaches and be across the personnel division,” Vrabel continued. “And I referred to as the league and made positive that that was going to be okay. After which I invited him again, and that’s the place he’s been the final couple days, and he’ll be right here for the subsequent couple days.”
Will DeAndre Hopkins in the end work out with the Patriots?
Whereas the Patriots added receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs to their passing assault earlier this yr, Hopkins doubtlessly could possibly be one other helpful pair of palms for Vrabel. Thus, it isn’t all that stunning that some would assume that Hopkins might obtain an on-the-field exercise with the Patriots.
“Tried to say it as clearly as I might twice, and I can say for a 3rd time, however he has acquired teaching gear on, and he’s serving to out the offensive coaches and assembly with our personnel guys,” Vrabel stated about Hopkins. “I imply, he loves soccer. Those who love soccer and play the sport for the size of time that he did as soon as, I feel, to discover the alternatives and what that appears like after his enjoying profession is over.”
Time will inform if Hopkins’ enjoying profession is already over or if he’ll obtain a name from an marketed Tremendous Bowl contender in some unspecified time in the future between now and the beginning of the common season.
