From being a six-time Super Bowl winner to becoming a team that consecutively missed the playoffs, the name of the New England Patriots came into focus following the departure of their seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Tom Brady
DeAndre Hopkins offered a great chance to boost Bill Belichick’s offense. The team’s red zone situation worsened due to declining performance, dropping from the 6th-ranked offense in 2021 to 17th in 2022. Despite a chance to acquire Hopkins, they missed it. Belichick then focused on defense, reportedly exploring free-agent defensive tackle Trey Flowers.
Trey Flowers works out with New England amid reunion speculations
Reportedly, the NY teams’ the New York teams’ defense was among the best in the league in terms of running yards allowed per game last season, which led CBS Sports to list them as one of the teams most likely to place in the top ten.
Yet, Belichick is seemingly more inclined to bolster their defensive lineup this season. ESPN reported that Monday they had a discussion with one of their former teammates Flowers whom they also visited in March.
The Patriots hosted veteran free-agent DE Trey Flowers on a workout.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 7, 2023
Flowers was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. After starring for the Patriots for four seasons, Trey headed on to start a new chapter with the Detroit Lions, signing a five-year, $90 million contract in 2019. The two Super Bowl champions’ time with the Lions was mostly overshadowed by injuries.
Between the 2020 and ’21 seasons, the 29-year-old only managed to play 29 games while sitting out 19, after which the Lions released him. He then had a brief time with the Miami Dolphins.
DeAndre Hopkins reportedly will not join the Patriots
Hopkins toured the Tennessee Titans and Patriots as a free agent following being waived by the Arizona Cardinals. Plenty of fans believed Hopkins would be on the New England team at that time. Even so, the calculation was altered when Belichick steadfastly made the table more cheap.
The five-time Pro Bowl receiver had made things official with the Titans after not receiving a desired signing value. DeAndre made the announcement of his two-year, $26 million contract via an Instagram video.
Blessed 🙏 @DeAndreHopkins is a Titan pic.twitter.com/PUC3lXozaA
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) July 24, 2023
“I feel really good — blessed,” Hopkins said in a video released by the team. “Grateful to be here. Thank you, Nashville. Thank you, Tennessee. Let’s get to work,” DHop said in the video.
After passing up the chance to sign DeAndre, Belichick received a lot of criticism evolving into the subject of numerous news articles. Although the defense of the Belichick team is significantly stronger currently, it remains to be seen if they decide to add Flowers.
