The Patriots are in good shape even without Hopkins

To make things absolutely clear, DeAndre Hopkins would be a great fit for the New England Patriots in 2023. He would instantly upgrade their wide receiver room and give Mac Jones another outstanding target, especially in the red zone. His presence could potentially establish the Patriots as legitimate contenders in the AFC and pose a threat to the three-time defending AFC East champion Buffalo Bills. Due to Hopkins' recent free-agent visit to Foxborough, there is serious optimism that he could be suiting up for the Patriots in 2023 and inject excitement into the franchise and the fanbase. That being said, there is also a chance that he could choose to sign elsewhere such as Tennessee for example. However, even if that is the outcome the Patriots will still be in good shape offensively next season.

After the 2022 season, it was abundantly clear there needed to be significant changes to the offense and the Patriots seemed to do a good job in implementing those changes this offseason. By hiring former offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, the team has brought in some much-needed stability at an especially crucial position with a young quarterback in Mac Jones still figuring it out at the NFL level. On a lesser but still important note, the team also brought in Adrian Klemm as the offensive line coach to help shore up a position that struggled to protect the passer last season. By bringing in two experienced offensive coaches, the Patriots are going to have a better foundation from which to work and it should help get more out of certain players on the offensive side of the ball.

Not only did the Patriots upgrade the offensive coaching staff, they also improved their personnel with a couple of key moves in free agency and in the draft. Recently acquired tight end Mike Gesicki will likely be a good fit because of his athleticism, size, and ability to line up almost anywhere on the field. There is a possibility that O'Brien may use more two tight end sets similar to what he did in his previous tour of duty in New England. The Patriots also upgraded their wide receiver room with the free agency addition of Juju Smith-Schuster and the drafting of Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas. Smith-Schuster's ability to make plays after the catch makes him a threat every time he touches the ball which plays right into Jones' skillset as an accurate passer. Boutte and Douglas are obviously less proven but both have the potential to be a long-term part of the receiver room.

To get back to Hopkins, his presence would certainly help take pressure off of the offense to perform and he likely would not need too much of an adjustment period thanks to his familiarity with O'Brien. That being said, there is reason to believe that the familiarity between O'Brien and Jones could simply be enough to lift the team back into being a quality offensive unit. They don't need to become the 2007 iteration of the Patriots exactly, but if they can improve in the red zone and keep turnovers down they'll be in good shape. Hopkins would certainly elevate the Patriots offensive ceiling but their success in 2023 doesn't hinge on him coming to New England.