Hopkins' signing highlights that Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft not on same page
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has made it a point all offseason that he wants the team to compete in 2023. Bill Belichick did not receive the message as he failed to land free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The decision highlights a disconnect between Belichick and Kraft, and it makes you wonder who made the call on not signing Hopkins. Ultimately, it shows that the Patriots are experiencing problems internally.
Patriots stayed in consistent contact with DeAndre Hopkins’ camp through free agency process, but their base financial package wasn’t in the same ballpark as what Titans offered. The good vibes between N.E. and Hopkins from his team visit never translated to a workable deal
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 16, 2023
Normally, when owners make statements like Kraft has made this offseason, the general manager follows through with moves that match what the owner said. In the case of the Patriots, Belichick has not added players that help the Patriots win a playoff game next season. Adding Mike Gesicki and Juju Smith-Schuster is not enough to match what Kraft said. It’s almost a slap in the face to the legendary owner who gave him a second chance after a failed time in Cleveland with the Browns.
Signing Hopkins would have made the Patriots a legit playoff team, and it would have greatly increased their chances of winning a playoff game. That’s ultimately what makes not signing Hopkins so puzzling because he was there to be had. It clearly shows that there is a disconnect between Kraft and Belichick because they are not on the same page in terms of what is needed to contend in 2023.
The fact that Belichick and Kraft are not on the same page should concern Patriots fans because the minute the internal operations of an organization grow sour, the whole operation falls apart. Patriots fans should be interested to see what Kraft says when asked about Hopkins signing with the Tennessee Titans because his comments will be telling.