The New England Patriots will have their options in free agency, with wide receiver and offensive line at the top of the priority list.
One could argue that the offensive line is more important than adding a wide receiver or two, but the Patriots have over $120 million in cap space, and could address both of those needs.
Regarding wide receivers, Drake Maye needs some weapons. The Patriots should be looking for a true No. 1 wide receiver and a No. 3 for a decent price.
Former Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who played with Mike Vrabel, could be an option. He’d be a No. 3, and there are even questions about that at this stage of his career, but this is still a former 1,500-yard guy.
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Seth Trachtman of YardBarker predicted Hopkins and the Patriots would link this offseason, predicting him to land in New England.
“While Hopkins wasn’t highly productive in 2024 with the Titans and Chiefs, he clearly has good football left. He’d be a fine leader and weapon for the Pats, also reuniting with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel,” Trachtman wrote.
What Hopkins the Patriots get will ultimately be the deciding factor, but there’s reason to give him a look if he could be added for a very low price. Vrabel already knows him and his game, making it a better fit than taking a chance on another player.
The only reason the Patriots should land him is if they get him for a cheap price. If not, there’s no reason to entertain getting a deal done.