For much of the offseason, the Patriots have been connected to nearly every available wide receiver, whether through free agency or a trade, to boost their offense and give Drake Maye the top-caliber playmaker the team was lacking last year.
That list of players included DeAndre Hopkins for several reasons, one of which was his connection to Mike Vrabel from their time with the Texans. On top of that was the Patriots' need for a proven veteran who could be productive on game day and also a mentor in the locker room, all of which pointed to Hopkins.
Instead, as we know, they signed Romeo Doubs and traded for A.J. Brown, but their link to Hopkins didn't stop there.
In fact, just this past week, the 5-time Pro Bowler was in Foxboro to learn the ropes of being a coach in the NFL from the New England staff. He worked with the offense, particularly the receivers, and seemingly decided to end his playing career to become a coach. At the very least, he was exploring his options, given that he hadn't been signed yet.
On Friday, Vrabel told reporters that Hopkins was no longer with the team and emphasized his appreciation for Hopkins's contributions during his visit. And now we know why he has already departed: it's not to join another NFL team, but to become a coach in college football.
DeAndre Hopkins is set to start his first coaching position in college football this fall
On Friday afternoon, it was announced that Hopkins would be joining the offensive staff at Georgia Tech University this upcoming season, and it might be fair to assume that the Patriots played a big role in making that happen.
Although he hasn't officially retired from the NFL and hasn't hinted at hanging up his cleats, it's an opportunity that may not have presented itself had the Patriots not given him the chance to get a feel for coaching over the past two weeks.
It's a sensible next step for any player who still wants to be part of the game, but in a different way, and if Hopkins goes on to become a good coach, then his time in New England might deserve a bit more credit.
Obviously, there's a reason he was hired and it's not just because of his recent experience in a coaching atmosphere. He is an accomplished receiver with extensive knowledge and skills he can pass on to the next generation of players, making it easy for any team, college or pro, to add him to their staff.
We'll have to see if a team comes calling at any point between now and Week 1, because there are still some teams who could use a trusted veteran to upgrade their receiving corps, and Hopkins could be the answer.
There's a good chance that happens, and it will be interesting to see whether he steps away from his coaching position. No matter what, it's great to see that the Patriots might have helped Hopkins begin the next chapter in his life, and much of that might be due to his connection to Vrabel, making it just another reason to appreciate the head coach even more.
And maybe, we see Hopkins take a job in the NFL eventually, perhaps with the Patriots.
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