Report: DeAndre Hopkins, Andre Ellington Had Private Workout With Patriots Last Week

Since Bill Belichick took over as Patriots head coach and general manger in 2000, the team has not taken a wide receiver higher than No. 36 overall. That could change this year.

New England held a private workout with Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Andre Ellington last week, according to NFL Draft Bible. Hopkins is expected to be one of the top five wideouts taken in this year’s draft.

Hopkins caught 82 passes for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2012. He finished his three-year career at Clemson with 206 receptions, 3,020 yards and 27 touchdowns. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. He was timed at 6.83 in the 3-cone drill at his March 7 pro day.

Hopkins would offer the Patriots a starting-caliber “X” receiver. He’s 6-foot-1, 214 pounds and uses his strength and physicality to attack the ball over defenders. Hopkins has been compared to Roddy White by many draft pundits.