Why DeAndre Hopkins may not sign with Patriots this week

Free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is wanted by the New England Patriots but may not sign with the franchise ahead of the start of summer. 

According to Adam London of NESN, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler said during an on-air segment on Thursday that he's been told Hopkins is "not in a major rush" to put pen to paper on a contract with the Patriots or any team. 

"He’s looking at more of training camp, even early August as more of a harder deadline for him to sign somewhere," Fowler said about Hopkins. "So, it would have to be a very sweet offer for New England to make that happen today." 

Hopkins previously met with the Tennessee Titans but left that visit without a contract. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones made it known earlier this week he'd "love to have" Hopkins as a weapon this fall, and Jeff Howe of The Athletic subsequently reported that "there’s optimism the two sides can find a way to reach an agreement" for the three-time first-team All-Pro to join the Patriots. 

London noted that Hopkins' meeting with the Patriots began Wednesday and continued into Thursday. 

"He will meet with the coaches, Bill Belichick," Fowler added about Hopkins. "The Patriots' interest remains high. They made that clear with Hopkins' representatives from the very beginning when he became a free agent. So, we’ll see if they can close on this thing." 

The Athletic's Tim Graham reported back on June 1 that Hopkins wants to secure a deal similar to the one-year contract worth $15M guaranteed with up to $3M in incentives that Odell Beckham Jr. received from the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the offseason. More recently, Mike Reiss of ESPN said over this past weekend that the 31-year-old potentially could agree to a one-year deal worth $10M with up to $3M in incentives. It's unclear if Hopkins would eventually accept such a proposal, but it sounds like he is willing to wait through July to see what's available to him from New England and any other suitors.