One factor could prevent Patriots from signing DeAndre Hopkins?

There's more information about why free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins didn't sign a contract with the New England Patriots following a midweek visit. 

According to Patriots beat reporter Dakota Randall of NESN, Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer explained during a Friday appearance on Boston's 98.5 The Sports Hub that head coach Bill Belichick may not have met Hopkins' supposed contract demands. 

"What I’ve continued to hear from different people down there is that this is really gonna come down to Bill," Breer told the "Toucher & Rich" program. "And it’s sort of self-explanatory with everything here for the last 23 years. But I think one thing that came across is this is going to have to be on Bill’s terms. And I think the fact that Bill and Hopkins spent one-on-one time (Thursday) at the end of the visit, tells me that those terms have been discussed." 

Breer noted both sides feel the meeting went "well" even though it ended without the signing of a contract. It's believed Hopkins could wait until training camp or even August to join a club as the three-time First-Team All-Pro understandably looks to get the best deal he can. Per varying reports, the 31-year-old is looking for a one-year contract worth around $10M-$15M with up to $3M in incentives. 

Similar to what Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said back on June 5, Breer indicated Hopkins still wants more cash than what's on the table as of June 16. 

"And are Bill’s terms now getting closer to what Hopkins' terms for going to a team would be? That to me is the question," Breer continued. "Because I still think money is a factor. If money was less of a factor, I think he’d be a Buffalo Bill or a Kansas City Chief now."

Hopkins doesn't need to be in any rush to accept a deal considering teams are entering their summer breaks. By letting him leave New England, the Patriots unofficially declared they're OK with a different club possibly making the veteran an offer he feels he can't refuse.