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DeAndre Hopkins has many suitors from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Buffalo Bills, but the New England Patriots are expected to steal a march on all of them and sign him.
At least, that is what NFL analyst Kevin Wildes believes. He thinks that despite interest from the reigning Super Bowl champions and the AFC East Champions, coach Bill Belichick might get ahead of all of them to sign the free agent wide receiver.
Like any player, it will not be a surprise if Hopkins wants to get a ring on his finger. However, it is also true that the NFL is a risky business, where injuries are common and careers are often cut short.
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In such an environment, a premier wide receiver like DHop might decide that it is not worth taking a pay cut, given he has a strong market for his services.
And that is where the crux of the matter lies. Even though the Chiefs and Bills might want a receiver like him, they will be loathe to pay him anything extra. They are already among the Super Bowl favorites this season without him and they would need to tinker to make their offenses better.
The situation is different for the Patriots. They missed out on the playoffs last season, and they are taking on Josh Allen and the Bills, Aaron Rodgers and the Jets and Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in one of the toughest divisions in the league.
They need an upgrade and are likely willing to fork out the money needed to bring a premium receiver home.
That is what Wildes argued as well when he said:
"I am 100% positive that DeAndre Hopkins is coming to the Patriots. Down to the marrow of my bones. That's how confident I am."
DeAndre Hopkins himself has indicated a reluctance to take a pay cut to go to Bills or Chiefs over Patriots
DeAndre Hopkins gave a clear indication of his own priorities and that he is unwilling to lower his value in search of a Super Bowl ring.
When the message was posted on social media that the Bills might take such a route, he replied with some unflattering emojis on social media. That pretty much rules out the Chiefs as well, who are expected to take a similar approach.
Hence, it looks most likely that DeAndre Hopkins will end up with the Patriots under Bill Belichick, playing as a star wide receiver for quarterback Mac Jones.
