DeAndre Hopkins' Choice: Winning vs. Wealth; Patriots Offer Both?

The New England Patriots have both a need and the money for DeAndre Hopkins, but can they give the coveted free-agent receiver a realistic shot at winning?

Acting as his own agent and pushing for a trade from the Arizona Cardinals that never materialized, free-agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins has cornered himself into a delicate decision. According to ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell, Hopkins must now decide between winning and  wealth.

"He's got to decide on the best place for him to win a championship, or the best place to make the most money," Barnwell said this week on an ESPN podcast. "It's tough."

Fortunately for the New England Patriots, they have both a strong need and plenty of salary-cap room for Hopkins. But, in a beast of an AFC East division, do the Pats offer a legitimate chance at the Super Bowl?

They have missed the postseason two of the last three years and haven't won a playoff game since Tom Brady left. Hopkins, 31, meanwhile, has only played in six postseason games over a 10-year career.

When Hopkins visits Foxboro next week on his free-agent tour of prospective teams - he's also scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans - he'll find a franchise desperately looking for a No. 1 receiver and with $14 million to spend.

Though Patriots' offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien says he is "on board" with signing Hopkins, Barnwell says their past relationship in Houston might be the biggest stumbling block in New England.

"There are teams that need him, but it isn't necessarily a great fit," he said. "New England, on paper, is obvious. The Patriots need a No. 1 target and Bill Belichick absolutely loves Hopkins. But there's a road block in Bill O'Brien. It's difficult to imagine him winding up with his old boss after their fallout."

In O'Brien's offense in Houston, Hopkins was All-Pro three times. And obviously there is enough interest on both sides to at least take a meeting. 

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