FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts. – Quick thoughts and notes about the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. D-Hop Dynamics: The Patriots are set to host free wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a visit this week, giving coach Bill Belichick a chance to connect with a player he’s been a longtime fan of. It should serve as a fact-finding mission for both of them, with Hopkins arriving after visiting the Titans and Belichick having taken an entire spring to rate his team’s personnel for skill.
Will it fit?
Here is one view of the key dynamics at play:
Patriots culture: Belichick annually places a great emphasis on culture. This was one of the less-highlighted aspects of the team’s free agent approach in this offseason, as there was a sense in some team circles that the culture needed a boost after a difficult 2022 season. Case in point: Veteran offensive tackle Riley Rev (1 year, $9 million) has quickly emerged as a favorite with his consistent daily presence.
As for Hopkins, who will make any team better on the field, how he fits into the team’s culture will be one of Belichick’s most important calculations.
When the Patriots make a major investment in a player, they tell everyone in the locker room what they value most. Belichick believes strongly in practice. He annually says that the best way to improve players is to train.
But the news out of Arizona is that the 31-year-old Hopkins, who was set to make $19 million in 2023 before his release, didn’t want to practice. And, perhaps telling us, as the Cardinals are trying to establish a new culture under first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monty Osenfurt, they’ve voluntarily thrown Hopkins out of the mix.
D-Hop Priorities: Hopkins should have a good sense of what life will be like in New England under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, having played with him in Houston from 2014 to 2019 when O’Brien was head coach. Hopkins was named first-team All-Pro three times while playing on O’Brien’s offense, totaling over 1,000 yards in five seasons before he was traded to Arizona State.
Sometimes spending time away can elicit greater player appreciation, and may reflect Hopkins’ desire to visit the Patriots—as well as hopes of carving out a market for himself. he said inI’m athleticpodcast that some of the things he’s looking for in his new team are “stable management, a QB who loves the game and gets everyone together, and a great defense.” “
The Patriots issue can be made to tick those boxes.
It is not said, however, how Hopkins views his potential contract in relation to those wishes.
financial market: Odell Beckham Jr. deal A one-year $15 million contract with the Ravens that could be worth $18 million would be a coup for Hopkins. Beckham seemed to be taking advantage of his competitive bidding situation, and perhaps the Ravens needed to calm quarterback Lamar Jackson as he navigated his contract stalemate at the time.
What are the odds of this kind of Hopkins perfect storm emerging? Seems like a longer shot, especially in New England.
A one-year, $10 million contract worth $12 million to $13 million might be a more reasonable goal for Hopkins (and a team like the Patriots). But if joining a competitor is more important to him than a contract, as Randy Moss did in 2007, that would change the dynamic and give higher-level teams with less financial flexibility an opportunity to join the mix (eg, the Bills). .
When the Patriots landed Moss, he was so excited about a fresh start (and playing with Tom Brady) that financial terms were not a top priority for him.
Hopkins’ approach will be clear in this regard – how does he balance the pursuit of his first-ever Super Bowl ring with the most lucrative contract?
2. Receivers are getting better: If the Patriots sign Hopkins, one line of thought is that it could mean another receiver on the team could be let go, with Kendrick Bourne possibly mentioned. But given that the team was careful with offseason addition JuJu Smith-Schuster (a knee injury that kept him out of the AFC Championship Game) this spring by taking him off the field, Tyquan Thornton is dealing with soft tissue, a source said. Injury having been active early on in OTAs, a case can be made that voluntarily demoting a recipient would be a risk not worth taking.
3. Eyes on Trent: After appearing in early volunteer organized collegiate action, starting left tackle Trent Brown hasn’t been around the team lately. So it was five-year veteran Calvin Anderson at left tackle, and Reeve at right tackle, with Conor McDermott the next tackle in the mix. Sophomore Andrew Stoeber (2022 seventh round, Michigan) and rookie Sir Soo (fourth round, Eastern Michigan) add more depth. And so as the Browns enter the mix for this week’s mandatory mini-camp—which is essentially an extension of the team’s structured activities—the Bears are watching.
4- Modified crime: The communication, synergy, and tempo of O.C. O’Brien’s offense has been noticeable to reporters watching drills and, most importantly, to players in the huddle.
“It feels good, it’s fast,” said wide receiver Bourne. “Everyone is on the same page and you can really see the growth. That’s the exciting part. I feel like we’ll know exactly what we’re doing and who we are, quickly.”
5. Mac Report: On a play in Friday’s practice, where the offense generated momentum moving the ball downfield, quarterback Mack Jones rushed everyone to the line of scrimmage and then made defensive tackle Daniel Ekoli a hard count. Jones pushed his right arm forward and pointed with his right index finger to signal a 5-yard penalty on a first down.
The play reflected, in part, Jones’ rest and leadership this spring of eight practices, three of which were at a lower pace. His colleagues have taken note.
“Mac is awesome. Mike Gesicki said with a tight end. “He’s been great as a captain and he’s great with his physicality and timing and throws a really easy ball. And he likes to have fun. It’s been a great season for us trying to calm down and get on the same page.”
6. Mabo’s Role: Sacramento State’s third-round pick Marte Mapu has been interesting to watch this spring, playing linebacker (where his 6-foot-3, 218-pound build is small) and safety (where he intercepted Billy Zap on Friday and got two more passes on his hands). ).
“I think it kind of has to do with the evolution of the game—having players who can play multiple positions and grow playing multiple positions in high school and college,” said veteran safety Adrian Phillips. “Seeing him on the field, it all feels so comforting to him. It looks like things he’s seen before.”
“Depending on what package we’re in, and the personnel on the field, they can be replaced. Learning both is essential,” added safety Kyle Dugger.
7. AFC East: Last week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft referred to the AFC East as the most difficult division in the NFL, top to bottom, and it’s hard to argue his point. The AFC North and NFC East are both worth considering, but it’s been a while since the AFC East has been stacked like this. In a reflection of this, the Patriots have only an 8% chance of winning the division based on ESPN’s Football Strength Index, despite being the 16th-best team in the league from a model standpoint.
8. They Said So: “Just a bad year. I felt like I wasn’t getting any better. I don’t really get out of stats; I just go by how I feel, how I look, and I wasn’t in a good place. I just want to avoid that. It’s always good to learn from tough times.” — Bourne in his 2022 season (41.9% playing time, 35 receptions for 434 yards, 1 TD)
9. Runaway Kicks: In light of the NFL’s new kickoff rule allowing fair catches at the 25-yard line, it was more than a passing note that veteran Nick Faulk and rookie Chad Ryland spent some time after Friday’s practice working on silly punts. Special teams train across the NFL personality to try out different possibilities this early season, and Joe Judge has emerged as a leading presence in that area in New England this spring.
10. Did you know? Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest has remained the NFL’s all-time leader in postseason sacks with 16. Frank Clark, who signed with the Broncos last week, is the closest an active player has come with. 13.5.