DeAndre Hopkins makes surprising Patriots decision amid free agency

Veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins remains a free agent as NFL players begin training-camp workouts. 

Hopkins previously made it known he "would love to play for a competitor if that time came." Thus, it wasn't all that shocking to learn on Friday that he was spending time with a New England Patriots side that is coming off a trip to the Super Bowl. 

However, it appears Hopkins may not be catching passes thrown by quarterback Drake Maye in September. 

DeAndre Hopkins thinking about retirement?

Per Mark Daniels of MassLive, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed on Friday that Hopkins is with the club to help determine what he may want to do whenever he calls time on his playing career. 

"DeAndre Hopkins is here with us kind of in …just to kind of check things out as far as what he wants to do as far as coaching, and you’ll see him on the field and whether that’s personnel," Vrabel explained. "And so I use him as an example because he wasn’t the fastest receiver, but he had an unbelievable play style and a play strength and route craft that allowed him to succeed." 

Hopkins, 34, has earned five total Pro Bowl and five All-Pro nods during his career, which began when the Houston Texans grabbed him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Most recently, he recorded 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns over 17 games with the Baltimore Ravens last season.  

It's unclear how much interest, if any, he has received from teams in need of help at the position since March. 

"[Hopkins] and I talked, and he asked if he could come hang out for a couple days and be around the coaches and be around the personnel department," Vrabel continued. "And I called the league and made sure that that was going to be okay. And then I invited him back, and that’s where he’s been the last couple days, and he’ll be here for the next couple days."

Will DeAndre Hopkins ultimately work out with the Patriots? 

While the Patriots added receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs to their passing attack earlier this year, Hopkins potentially could be another useful pair of hands for Vrabel. Thus, it's not all that shocking that some would think that Hopkins could receive an on-the-field workout with the Patriots. 

"Tried to say it as clearly as I could twice, and I can say for a third time, but he has got coaching gear on, and he is helping out the offensive coaches and meeting with our personnel guys," Vrabel said about Hopkins. "I mean, he loves football. People that love football and play the game for the length of time that he did once, I think, to explore the opportunities and what that looks like after his playing career is over." 

Time will tell if Hopkins' playing career is already over or if he will receive a call from an advertised Super Bowl contender at some point between now and the start of the regular season.