DeAndre Hopkins showed up at Patriots camp on Friday, July 25, and Mike Vrabel didn’t exactly shut the door on a bigger role down the line.
Vrabel told reporters before New England’s first practice on Saturday that the former All-Pro wide receiver was visiting and was considering a future in coaching. That alone makes for an interesting possibility, especially with the season nearly here and the Patriots trying to build off a strong first year under Vrabel as they chase a return to the Super Bowl.
Hopkins’ playing résumé speaks for itself. He made his name with the Houston Texans, where he became one of the NFL’s premier receivers, stacked up multiple 1,000-yard seasons, and earned three first-team All-Pro selections.
After seven seasons in Houston, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals and spent four years there. He later played for the Tennessee Titans in 2023 under Vrabel.
Given where Hopkins is in his career, a move toward coaching wouldn’t come out of nowhere. And if the Patriots are looking for another experienced voice, he’d make sense.
New England’s receiver group has plenty of young talent, including Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, and DeMario Douglas. Hopkins could be a valuable mentor for that room, joining veterans such as A.
J. Brown, Mack Hollins, and Romeo Doubs as another player the younger receivers could lean on.
With more than a decade in the league and a reputation as one of the best receivers of the 2010s, he’d bring a level of experience that can’t be taught in a meeting room.
His value wouldn’t have to stop with the wideouts, either. Hopkins could help the offense as a whole, and there’s even room for him to contribute on defense if that’s where he wanted to focus. New England already had a good offense last season, and adding another sharp football mind could only help.
There’s also the Vrabel factor. Hopkins and Vrabel spent one season together in Tennessee, and that connection would fit a pattern for New England. Brown wanted to play for Vrabel, and safety Kevin Byard signed with the Patriots because of his time under Vrabel with the Titans.
That kind of pull matters. It shows Vrabel’s relationships still carry weight around the league, whether it’s players wanting to suit up for him or potentially coach beside him. If Hopkins does end up on the staff, it would be another example of those connections paying off for New England.
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