Former Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins Close to Signing With New Team?

The courtship of former Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins continues.

With mandatory minicamp nearly complete and training camp over a month away, there's no rush for former Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins to sign anywhere. 

It's been weeks now since the Cardinals released Hopkins after a long offseason where his name was consistently found in trade rumors. The 31-year-old receiver still has some gas left in the tank, though Arizona couldn't find a team to take on his $19.45 million salary in a trade. 

Now, Hopkins is free to sign with any team of his choosing. After visiting the Tennessee Titans earlier in the week, Hopkins is now set to meet with the New England Patriots on Thursday. 

Apparently, there's hope Hopkins won't leave without a deal.

"The free agent is planning to visit Gillette Stadium on Thursday, and there’s optimism the two sides can find a way to reach an agreement, according to a person with knowledge of the matter," wrote The Athletic's Jeff Howe before diving into some of the issues both sides will face in negotiations. 

"That’s not to say there aren’t hurdles. First, it remains unclear how much it would cost to sign Hopkins, though the Patriots do have the resources with about $14.2 million in cap space, according to the NFLPA. Second, can the Patriots and Hopkins find a mutual understanding regarding his practice schedule, which has waned in recent years?

"There is no denying Hopkins can still be one of the most dominant receivers in the league when he’s on the field, but the two sides have to decide whether they’re a good match for one another. And it sounds like there’s some motivation to find that common ground."

Hopkins first was believed to be chasing a championship ring, which put teams such as the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in the driver's seat for his talent. Yet Hopkins is very much still after one final payday, which could come in New England - where he's familiar with current offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien thanks to their time in Houston.