Three reasons why the Patriots should sign DeAndre Hopkins

Wideout DeAndre Hopkins, perhaps the biggest name available in NFL free agency, has no shortage of potential suitors. 

He visited with the Titans and Patriots last week. The Bills, Browns and Chiefs may also be in the mix, per ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler. Here are three reasons New England should jump at the chance to sign Hopkins, who has six 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 10 seasons in the NFL.

1. Hopkins had his best seasons with new Patriots OC

Hopkins' first union with Bill O'Brien ended so poorly it's easy to forget how successful they were together. O'Brien became Texans head coach in 2014, and from his first season through 2019, Hopkins ranked second in the NFL in targets (957), yards (7,800) and touchdowns (52). (h/t Stathead)

O'Brien was hired this offseason by Bill Belichick to fix New England's offense, primarily QB Mac Jones, who slumped in his second season. Hopkins is familiar with the offense O'Brien runs and could hit the ground running.

After his shocking trade from Houston in 2020, Hopkins told Sports Illustrated he had "no relationship" with O'Brien. His visit to the team's headquarters suggests O'Brien isn't a dealbreaker. 

2. He'd provide Mac Jones with another good receiver

The cupboard in New England isn't bare on offense. Belichick's decision to hire O'Brien — an actual offensive coordinator instead of Matt Patricia, who cosplayed one last season — is an immediate upgrade. New England signed wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, another positive stride.

Smith-Schuster played well last season in Kansas City (78 catches, 933 yards) after getting off course in Pittsburgh. The Patriots also signed tight end Mike Gesicki after he fell out of favor in Miami during Mike McDaniel's first year as head coach. From 2019-21, only four tight ends had more receiving yards than Gesicki — Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Mark Andrews and George Kittle.

Smith-Schuster and Gesicki join a group that already includes DeVante Parker, Pro Football Focus's 29th-graded wide receiver in 2022, and tight end Hunter Henry. Parker averaged 17.4 yards per reception last season, his first in New England. Henry ranked 15th among tight ends in receiving yards (509) despite ranking 25th in targets (59). 

New England has done a decent job of improving the offense around Jones. Signing Hopkins would be another step in the right direction. He would attract opponents' top cornerbacks, freeing Parker, Smith-Schuster, Gesicki and Henry for more favorable matchups.

3. His signing should keep him out of Buffalo (and Miami)

A signing of Hopkins by New England would make the Patriots' path in the AFC East less formidable.  The Bills won the division the past three seasons and are favored to make it four straight in 2023, per OddsChecker. Adding Hopkins would make their coronation all the more certain. 

Miami is a  dark-horse candidate to land Hopkins. Fellow 2023 free agent Dalvin Cook, the former Viking, is the best running back on the market. He recently told ESPN's Adam Schefter how "epic" it would be for him and Hopkins to join forces.

The Dolphins are favored to land Cook, per OddsChecker. If Hopkins also signs with Miami, he would join forces with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, taking the Dolphins' already-formidable offense up another notch.

"Epic," indeed.