Bills Rival Patriots Hosting DeAndre Hopkins; Should Buffalo Step Up?

DeAndre Hopkins will meet with the New England Patriots. Should that cause the Buffalo Bills to think about stepping up?

DeAndre Hopkins is lining up free-agent visits, with a Buffalo Bills rival moving to the forefront as per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the star wide receiver will meet with the New England Patriots next week.

Hopkins, 31 and a perennial Pro Bowler, is also scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans. Buffalo has been discussed as a possible destination for Hopkins, but that's largely based on his own comments, and not on anything of substance from Bills management.

Hopkins is on record prior to his release from the Arizona Cardinals as liking the idea of playing with Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Hopkins stated this desire in an interview with the I AM ATHLETE podcast.

The Bills, however, have just $7 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap, which is way short of what many project it will cost to sign Hopkins, who has been a $20 million APY player. It has been speculated that Buffalo may have taken itself out of the Hopkins sweepstakes this week by signing the pass-rusher Leonard Floyd, last with the Los Angeles Rams, to a one-year contract. Floyd will help Buffalo especially while Von Miller continues his rehab with hopes of playing by Week 6.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer's latest update on the Hopkins saga is less optimistic for Bills fans.

“At this point, I’d say (they) would sign him only at a discount,” Breer writes.

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