Patriots Signing of DeAndre Hopkins Blocked by 'Culture Fit'?

The New England Patriots are believed to have an interest in signing free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Do the New England Patriots need ex-Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins? Of course, many would say yes, but is Hopkins a culture fit in New England? 

It is probably not the angle many Patriots fans are thinking about with all the buzz surrounding the possibility of Hopkins joining their team. But in a recent article from NBC Sports, Phil Perry insists that the cultural fit between the two is potentially a concern. 

"After talking with several league sources this week about a potential union between Hopkins and the Patriots, a handful of themes have emerged," Perry writes. "He is not thought to be, I'm told, a 'program fit."

Why is this? Without additional context, it seems like a hot take or character assassination against Hopkins. Yet, Perry explains that there is a perception of Hopkins as someone who does not practice, which goes against the "Patriot Way."

"That's not [Hopkins]," one coach told Perry. "He's never been that guy." 

Then there are the schematic concerns of how Hopkins can fit into the Patriots' offense, which new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien leads. Perry writes that Hopkins' play style, which doesn't rely on "precise route-running" or using elite speed to gain separation, won't be "ideal" for O'Brien's offense, which is expected to be a "timing-and-rhythm-based" passing attack.

It is quite a different picture that is painted by those Perry talked to about Hopkins, compared to the excitement that fans have about the potential addition. Although, even if Hopkins isn't the same kind of player that O'Brien last coached during his stint as the Houston Texans head coach, it is another weapon for him to utilize. 

After a disastrous season last fall, where it felt like the Patriots were bereft of play-making depth, if the price is manageable, we will still argue that the signing of Hopkins would make a lot of sense, despite the concerns of how he fits the culture in Foxboro. ... and we would add that coach Bill Belichick has a successful history of acquiring players with "culture-fit'' concerns and competing for Super Bowls with them.

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