The New England Patriots’ 2024 season wasn’t much to write home about. However, there were flashes of promise for a young team with a potential franchise quarterback at its helm. Drake Maye looked the part and New England has high hopes for the passer.
Now, with head coach Mike Vrabel leading the charge, building out weapons around him is a priority for the Patriots. And, according to a recent prediction, help might be on its way.
New England Patriots Find Perfect Veteran Receiver For Drake Maye
For New England, the biggest cause of concern was the offensive line, which ranked last by PFSN’s OL+ metric. In turn, the offense ranked 26th in the league, per PFSN’s Offense+. However, the fault didn’t lie at Maye’s feet.
The 19th-ranked quarterback in the league (PFSN’s QB+ metric) had a solid season as far as rookies are concerned. But without any true playmakers to throw the ball to, his numbers were destined to be mediocre.
But, according to Yardbarker, Vrabel might find himself with a familiar name in the wide receiving room, with DeAndre Hopkins predicted to join him in New England. Hopkins didn’t have his best season splitting time between the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs but, it’s worth diving deeper into those numbers.
In 2024, he totaled just 610 yards and five touchdowns. However, 10 of his 16 games played came with Kansas City, who relied on the run and quick-passing game more than in recent years — not necessarily conducive to downfield success.
That, alongside building chemistry with a new quarterback and learning Andy Reid’s system may have held him back. A year prior, he generated 1,057 yards while playing all 17 games with the lowly Titans.
Even if not his five-time Pro Bowl self, Hopkins would still be an upgrade over the current cast of characters out wide. Moreover, as a true veteran, he could be a valuable addition to the youngsters on the team.
In his age-33 season, Hopkins isn’t going to cost a fortune and might be the kind of veteran to provide production, security, and a helping hand to his greener teammates.
His familiarity with Vrabel could also help Hopkins get assimilated with the program and produce quicker than he had in Kansas City.