NFL insider weighs the potential landing spots for DeAndre Hopkins

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is weighing in on where DeAndre Hopkins will sign, and he’s narrowed it down to two potential landing spots at the moment.

According to Pelissero during his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show earlier this week, Hopkins is looking like he’ll end up with the New England Patriots or Tennessee Titans.

“I think that DeAndre Hopkins is most likely going to land with one of the teams we think it’s going to be,” theorized Pelissero, following claim that former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will sign with a surprise team. “I think that Hop, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that it could be done by the end of this week. Whether it’s New England or whether it’s Tennessee. He makes a lot of sense for both of those teams.

“You know, Bill Belichick likes him a lot. We’ve heard him say that in the past, how highly he regards Hopkins’ game. Then Tennessee, obviously he’s got the relationship with Mike Vrabel as well.”

While Pelissero believes there’s a good chance that Hopkins ends up with either of those teams, he’s wondering if the star wide receiver is weary about staking his claim to a team quarterbacked by Mac Jones or Ryan Tannehill.

“I mean, if you’re Hop, one of the questions you’ve got to ask yourself too is, this is kind of — in all likelihood, you’re looking at a one-year deal. You’re thinking, ‘If I can have a big season, I can show — if I can stay healthy, I’m still DeAndre Hopkins, I could get one more big contract.’ You know, wide receivers used to be productive into their mid-thirties. But I’ve got to show I could do it. Do you want to bet the rest of your career on Ryan Tannehill or Mac Jones? I think that that’s a question you have to consider here,” added Pelissero. “Money’s going to drive some of this too. He’s going to want to be in the right spot. The whole you know, wants to play for a Super Bowl contender thing, overblown. He’s not going to these teams thinking they’re like, front-runners in the AFC.

“There’s a lot of good teams you’ve got to get through in the AFC. But you do need to make sure that you’re with the right quarterback, in this situation. Because he doesn’t want to end up in another spot where he’s frustrated.”

As for why it seems as if no NFC teams are interested in Hopkins, the NFL Network insider revealed that Hopkins is more of an acquired taste, and some familiarity from his days in Houston is helping his case.

“I don’t think it’s really an AFC versus NFC thing, I think part of it is the familiarity. I mean, if you ask around, I mean quite frankly, if you ask around to people who DeAndre Hopkins have played with, played for, he’s not everybody’s cup of tea. You’re going to get mixed reports on him,” added Pelissero. “But I think it means something that the two guys who were with him in Houston, Vrabel and Bill O’Brien, both want him.

“O’Brien’s the guy who traded him away, and there was a lot of dynamics involved in that, but there’s not an issue with their relationship where it can’t work. And if you’re O’Brien, and you’re trying to get back to being an NFL head coach, why wouldn’t you want a guy who already knows your system, can walk in the door, run the entire route tree and potentially elevate your young quarterback, who you also need to play well if you’re going to be competitive and try to get back into the playoffs.”

Alas, there’s a bevy of factors at play, but Tom Pelissero provided some fascinating insight into the DeAndre Hopkins situation. Now all that’s left to do is wait and see where he ends up.