Mike Vrabel and the new Patriots coaching staff couldn't have joined the team at a better time regarding having a solid opportunity to legitimately improve the roster during the offseason. Not only are they holding the fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft, but they are also projected to have (by far) the most cap space to use in free agency.
Considering the number of positions that need improvement, the available cap space might not be stretched out as far as some might like, but the new regime will have a lot of options to go after to makeover the roster in perhaps the most drastic way we have seen in several years.
How they will go about doing that is not yet known, but there's a belief they will heavily focus on the offense now that the team has their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye.
Assuming that's the case, PFF recently discussed the most desirable free agents and where their best landing spots would be, and fortunately for the Patriots, they were listed as the team for one of the best available wide receivers of the group who also happens to have a connection to their new head coach.
DeAndre Hopkins named a favorite free agent to sign with the Patriots
There are some good receivers set to hit free agency in March, with the Patriots' main focus surrounding Tee Higgins. Besides him, any other scenario has involved the team trading for a top-name player like A.J. Brown, given his connection to Mike Vrabel or D.K. Metcalf.
But those might not be their only options, according to PFF, who names DeAndre Hopkins as a prime candidate to land in New England this offseason.
"The Patriots made sizable investments to their receiver room during the 2024 NFL Draft, bringing in Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, but weren’t able to make strides in the passing game. Providing Drake Maye with a talented veteran on the outside who can also help elevate the team's young talent would be a wise use of the Patriots' league-leading cap space.
After his move to Kansas City, Hopkins generated a 78.3 PFF receiving grade while dealing with a knee injury. He hasn't earned a season-long PFF overall grade below 70.0 since his rookie 2013 campaign."
The receiver almost joined the team in 2023, as he came in for a visit after his release from the Cardinals but chose the Titans instead. He was eventually traded to the Chiefs during the 2024 season and will be a free agent once their season ends.
Given how talented and productive he continues to be, he would be a great addition to the Patriots receiving corps as the veteran WR1 the team has long needed. They'll have the money to pay him a worthy contract, and it certainly doesn't hurt that his former head coach is now calling the shots in Foxboro.
Depending on what he's looking for and the Chiefs' fate in the Super Bowl, Hopkins might seriously consider going to New England this time around. No matter what, it's hard to rule against them seriously pursuing him once free agency begins, as he would be a great player for Drake Maye to work with. But it will really come down to what he is looking for at this point in his career, leaving returning to Kansas City a strong possibility.