JONES ‘WOULD LOVE TO ADD’ WR HOPKINS
Vet WR expected to visit Patriots
FOXBORO >> In a matter of days, maybe hours, Mac Jones could be practicing with a new No. 1 wide receiver.
As of late Monday, Deandre Hopkins was expected to visit the Patriots after making the first stop on his free-agent tour in Tennessee. If Hopkins likes his time in Foxboro and signs, what would Jones think?
“I think Deandre’s a great player. If you watch his film from college all the way through the NFL, he’s done a great job. So obviously we’d love to have him, but we do have a great group of guys,” he said Monday.
“We just know that we want to win, and I know all the guys feel the same way. But I’ve been really pleased with the playmakers that we have on our team.”
Jones was without two of his top wide receivers at Monday’s minicamp practice, when Juju Smith-schuster and Tyquan Thornton both sat out with reported injuries. When healthy, the Patriots’ receiving corps is widely seen as average. On Monday, the offense leaned heavily on tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki, who also repped with the first-team unit for most of OTAS.
Hopkins, 31, previously said he wants his next team to have strong management, an elite defense and a quarterback who cares deeply about the game. The Cardinals released Hopkins in late May after failing to find a trade partner willing to surrender assets and absorb more than $19.1 million in base salary for this season. It is unknown how much Hopkins is currently seeking in negotiations, though the Patriots have the cash and cap space ($14.1 million) to fit him if they so choose.
Asked about Hopkins’ expected visit, Pats coach Bill Belichick confirmed the team has been in contact with the three-time All-pro but didn’t offer much else Monday morning.
“We’re working through it,” Belichick said, “so I don’t really
have anything to add to that.”
Pats cut RB Robinson, resign rookie
The Patriots waived running back James Robinson on Monday, less than three months after making him one of their highest-profile free-agent additions.
The 24-year-old was expected to serve as the primary backup to Rhamondre Stevenson. His departure leaves Stevenson as the only proven rusher on the roster. Last March, Robinson signed a 2-year, $4 million contract that protected the team in case of injury or unexpected release and now creates roughly
$1 million in cap space.
Robinson slowly worked his way back from an Achilles tear last year. He proved far less effective than the 1,000-yard rookie rusher who broke out with the Jaguars in 2020. Last October, Jacksonville traded him to the Jets, who declined to retain him as a restricted free agent this offseason.
The Pats now have Stevenson, Pierre Strong, Kevin Harris, Ty Montgomery and J.J. Taylor in their running backs room. Montgomery served as the team’s third-down back in last year’s season opener, then underwent season-ending
shoulder surgery, which forced Stevenson into a full-time role. As a result, he wore down as the season progressed but led the team in catches and rushing yards.
On Monday, Montgomery primarily played receiver during minicamp practice, while Strong took the next running back reps after Stevenson in team drills.
Before practice, the Patriots re-signed undrafted rookie defensive lineman Justus Tavai. The 24-yearold originally signed in mid-may after participating in rookie minicamp, then received his release on June 2. He is the younger brother of Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai.
The Pats also released former practice-squad cornerback
Tae Hayes, a long shot to make the 53-man roster. He did not participate in practice. The Pats closed league business Monday with two open roster spots ahead of an expected free-agent visit from Deandre Hopkins.
Report: Guy absent over contract
The Patriots had a notable hole in the middle of their defense during Monday’s minicamp practice.
According to ESPN, longtime defensive tackle Lawrence Guy did not report due to what are believed to be contract-related reasons. Guy is entering his seventh season with the Patriots and 13th in the NFL. In 2021, Guy
re-signed on a 4-year, $11.5 million contract packed with incentives.
He is set to earn $2 million this season in base salary and can make an extra $3.5 in incentives, per Over The Cap. Guy, 33, has no more guaranteed money left in his deal.
Over the past six seasons, he started 91 of 93 games and was voted to the franchise’s 2010s Alldecade Team. Guy was also elected a team captain and won the Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2021. Last season, he recorded 46 tackles, five QB hits and two sacks.
Asked if the team had any excused absences Monday, Pats coach Bill Belichick said the team
was “working through a couple things.” Guy’s penalty for skipping mandatory minicamp practices would be a $16,459 fine for the first practice, $32,920 in fines for the second practice and a $49,374 blow for the third practice, per ESPN.
Starting offensive tackle Trent Brown was also absent Monday. According to Masslive, Brown’s scheduled flight from his native Texas back to the northeast was canceled because of a hail storm. The 6-foot-8, 380-pounder also missed most of the team’s recent OTA practices and meetings.
It is unknown whether Brown or Guy will report for Tuesday’s practice.