DeAndre Hopkins using visits as leverage?
As DeAndre Hopkins wraps up his visit with the New England Patriots on Thursday, it appears the free-agent receiver will leave town without agreeing to a contract despite the organization’s optimism it would sign him.
While Hopkins is likely looking to visit with more teams, former agent-turned-NFL contract expert for CBS Sports Joel Corry recently suggested that Hopkins’ camp may have used the Titans as a stalking horse to drive negotiations with the Patriots after leaving Tennessee on Monday without agreeing to a deal.
“They lined up a second trip after Tennessee to put pressure on Tennessee because if (they) really wanted him and the numbers were right, which obviously they weren’t, there would be no second trip to New England,” Corry said during an appearance on “Blaine and Mickey.” “And whatever offer (they) gave while he was (in Nashville), he can shop that to new England. I would try to set up another trip if I had to if there’s another team which is sufficiently interested.”
The five-time All-Pro receiver is reportedly looking for a salary somewhere between the $15 million Odell Beckham Jr. got from the Baltimore Ravens and the $19.1 million he was due before the Arizona Cardinals released him.
Should Hopkins sign with the Titans, Corry suggested the dollar amount of the deal would fall somewhere between what Tennessee dished out over the last two seasons for Julio Jones and Robert Woods.
“Robert Woods made $10 million last year,” Corry said. “Julio Jones…(they) paid him $15.3 million for one season; actually $17.3 million because he had a $2 million guarantee with no offset. So, the number on (Hopkins’) base (salary) should be between $10 million and (the $13.75 million they) weren’t willing to pay (Woods) this year.”
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