Patriots 'Definitely' Involved in DeAndre Hopkins Trade Rumors, Says WR

While there have been no direct conversations about a trade, DeAndre Hopkins officially added the New England Patriots to his list of suitors.

Could the Arizona Cardinals' star receiver hop over to Foxboro? DeAndre Hopkins himself admitted that the New England Patriots are trying to make it happen.

In an appearance on the "I AM ATHLETE" podcast, Hopkins confirmed that the Patriots are "definitely" one of the teams he's kept an eye on as clarity has evaded his red future. Hopkins responded to a trade query brought up by hosts Brandon Marshall and Ashley Nicole Moss by adding a rhetorical one of his own ("Who said I want to leave?"), he admitted that he's particularly intrigued by the gossip that connects him to the AFC East. 

“I would definitely say the Patriots were one of the teams," Hopkins declared. "Obviously, I would say the Bills were one of those teams that I heard."

The Cardinals enter the 2023 season on a bit of an awkward note: the team is embarking upon a new era after an embarrassing four-win season that gave rise to Jonathan Gannon and former Patriots executive Monti Ossenfort, who stand as the team's respective head coach and general manager. Arizona is also set to welcome back Kyler Murray at quarterback, though his health is likewise anything but certain after missing nine games due to injuries over the last two seasons. Hopkins is not partaking in the Cardinals' organized team activities stationed in Tempe. 

In addition to addressing his take on the rumors, Hopkins laid out exactly what he'd like in a potential new employer.

“What I want is stable management upstairs. I think that’s something I haven’t really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston and then to Arizona. I’ve been through three or four GMs in my career, so stable management. (I'd like) a (quarterback) who loves the game, a QB who brings everybody on board with him and pushes not just himself but everybody around him . . . and a great defense. A great defense wins championships.”

Even if there are apparently a few more calls needed to officially link Hopkins and the Patriots, New England sincerely fulfills two chapters of the required triumvirate: little more needs to be said about Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft's maneuvering, wheeling, and dealing when it comes to the Patriots' roster while their defense boasts some of the most effective pass rushers in the league (i.e. Matthew Judon and Josh Uche).

Equally grating, however, has been the discussion around the Patriots' passing situation, as it appears observers of both the professional and amateur variety aren't convinced that Mac Jones is the Patriots' long-term answer under center. Time will tell if Hopkins is placed on the trade block, but the Patriots should perhaps try to solve their own problems before dealing with the gridiron issues in the desert. 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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