J.J. Watt: Would Patriots' Trade Match of DeAndre Hopkins & Coach Bill O'Brien Work?

A trade for DeAndre Hopkins would put him back in partnership with the Patriots new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien. And J.J. Watt says ...

Would DeAndre Hopkins fit with the New England Patriots - or, more specifically, would he fit with new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien?

"Time can make everything different,'' said J.J. Watt via The Pat McAfee Show ... speaking as an expert who has a history with both guys. "Myself and Bill O'Brien have been in many battles over the years but we still talk.''

Hopkins is on the trade block of the Arizona Cardinals, where the all-time great Watt, just retired, finished up his brilliant career. His teammate in Arizona, and then before that after a controversial trade also in Houston with the Texans, was Hopkins.

And the guy who engineered that controversial (meaning, "awful'') trade for the Texans, which at the time starred Hopkins on offense and Watt on defense? That would be their former head coach and general manager ...

Bill O'Brien.

That shocking 2020 trade is one of the reasons O'Brien is now an assistant coach instead of a GM, to be frank. But now, as the Patriots offensive coordinator, he could in a sense fix that mistake if O'Brien and Hopkins are comfortable giving it another try.

Maybe worth noting: In recent hours, it appears that Hopkins and Pats QB Mac Jones have just started following one another.

Hopkins following Jones on Instagram is interesting for a couple of reasons. Obviously, the All-Pro receiver has been the center of trade rumors in recent weeks as the Arizona Cardinals are reportedly seeking to trade him. The Patriots have been the few teams linked to him as well, adding some intrigue to Hopkins’ social media activity.

It’s also interesting because Jones began to follow Hopkins on Instagram earlier in the week as well. Now, maybe the two players just happened to like what each other posts on their accounts.

In New England, it could now be argued that the pass-catching positions have been boosted by having already added JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki. But JuJu really just replaces Jakobi Meyers (now in Vegas) and Gesicki really just replaces Jonnu Smith (now in Atlanta).

Those aren't "moves up''; those moves "maintain.''

DeAndre Hopkins - for the Dallas Cowboys or the Patriots or somebody - is going to represent a move up.

Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here

More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.