The Facts: Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Hopkins is scheduled for a visit with the Patriots next week. Per the report, the visit is set to take place after Hopkins meets with the Titans.

Diehards Line: The Patriots’ need for more offensive talent has linked them to a pursuit of Hopkins since he was still a member of the Cardinals, but a move to New England would mean a reunion with Bill O’Brien. The current Patriots offensive coordinator was the Texans’ coach and General Manager at the end of Hopkins’ time in Houston and there were reports of acrimonious interactions between the two men before Hopkins left the team. After Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals, he said he had “no relationship” with O’Brien and all involved would have to feel satisfied that everyone could co-exist with a new team. Next week will shed more light on that question and on where Hopkins might be playing football come the fall.

The Facts: Hill broke the Dolphins’ single-season receiving yards record in his first season in Miami. His 119 catches were also a team record, and he went for 1,710 yards to break Mark Clayton’s 38-year-old team record for yards. Hill wants more this season. His goal is 2,000 yards, which would set the NFL record. “Oh yeah, for sure [it’s a realistic goal],” Hill said. “I think the added [17th] game gives me quite the advantage, so yeah.”

Diehards Line: Hill still would have to average 117.6 in 17 games to reach 2,000 yards. He averaged a career-best 100.6 last season. Calvin Johnson set the record of 1,964 yards in 16 games in 2012, nine years before the NFL went to 17 games. The health of Tua Tagovailoa will play a big part in Hill’s chances of reaching 2,000 yards. The quarterback missed four games in 2022 with concussions, and Hill had three of his least productive games when Tagovailoa was sidelined. The two are expected to continue their work on their own this offseason. “I’m really hoping that Tua wants to go back to Hawaii because that way, I can sneak a vacation in with the family and also get some work in,” Hill said.

The Facts: The NFL and NFL Players Association approved a new helmet this offseason that helmet maker Vicis designed specifically to protect quarterbacks from the kinds of injuries they suffer when their heads hit the ground. Unsurprisingly, Tagovailoa is interested. Tagovailoa, who suffered multiple concussions on exactly those kinds of hits last season, said he is wearing he newly designed helmet at Organized Team Activities to see how comfortable he is in it. “I’m still trying to feel it out, so what better time to feel it out than OTAs? I heard it’s supposedly better than the helmet I was wearing last year,” Tagovailoa said. “If it could be that much more safe, then why not give it a shot?”

Diehards Line: Tagovailoa said he’s not sure if he’ll wear the helmet during the season, but he wants to give himself plenty of time to try it out on the practice field. Of course, quarterbacks don’t get hit in practice, and Tagovailoa won’t really know how much extra protection the helmet gives him until he needs it. But it’s something he’s considering, and other quarterbacks may follow suit.

The Facts: By this point, everyone knows how spectacular Denver's face-plant was in 2022. Hopes of a Super Bowl quickly crumbled in the Mile High City, where Wilson and the Broncos proved they weren't contenders, but pretenders under the since-fired Nathaniel Hackett. Sean Payton is now in charge and Denver has a renewed sense of optimism. Count OT Garett Bolles as one of the hopefuls who not only believes the Broncos will surprise folks, but also that Wilson is going to shock the world. "He's a great dude, he's the same guy every single day, he works his butt off,' Bolles said, via ESPN.com. "And I'm ready for that stuff to go away and when it goes, everyone's going to eat crow.'

Diehards Line:Denver's disintegration wasn't simply a tale of a team failing to meet expectations. Following the disappointing 2022 season, reports emerged describing special treatment of Wilson, who reportedly kept his own office in the Broncos' facility, among other things. Bolles said Thursday those reports angered him, and he's taking them "very personal." Bolles believes he has good reason to be confident that Wilson will turn around what was a miserable season for the All-Pro and Super Bowl-winning quarterback. "He's the same guy, he doesn't change; he's a leader,' Bolles said. ... Because the Broncos traded so much to acquire Wilson, they have no choice but to turn it around in 2023. The alternative means mass firings, save for perhaps Payton, another key figure for whom Denver had to trade away assets to add. The pressure is on. Bolles is attempting to ensure Wilson never feels even a hint of it.

The Facts: Mixon's status in Cincinnati has been a hot topic all summer, with rumors swirling that the Bengals could move on given his hefty contract. But the RB told SI's All Bengals reporter Elise Jesse during an interview at his youth camp he's not fretting about the speculation, citing his relationship with owner Mike Brown as the reason he's confident he won't be going anywhere this season. "You hear a lot of noise, but at the same time, when you don't pay attention and you don't see it, none of that affects you," Mixon said. "What matters most is Mike Brown. He comes up to me at practice and he's always happy to see me, and that's the best feeling. It don't get no better than that."

Diehards Line: Added Mixon: "He's the owner, and he makes the decisions. He embraced me since day one and I love Mike and I know Mike loves me too, so it's a great thing to have. I feel like our front office, everybody is great to me, everybody has backed me 100 percent, and it's a great feeling. Just the love and support that I get from them continuously. Very appreciative. Words really don't explain the true feeling of what that means to me. ..." Mixon is slated to count $12.79 million against the salary cap in 2023. With no guaranteed money left on his base salary, the Bengals could save more than $10 million by releasing the running back at this point. It's possible the Bengals could squeeze Mixon to take a pay cut before Week 1. He's also dealing with legal issues this offseason. In April, he pleaded not guilty to refiled menacing charges. The Bengals lost backup RB Samaje Perine in free agency and waited until the fifth round to draft Chase Brown to go along with backups Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans. The Bengals roster remains one of the best in the AFC, and with looming big contracts on the horizon -- Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase -- it could be the final run with this current group, including Mixon.

The Facts: The Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source.

Diehards Line:Other reports suggest they'll make one more effort to trade Cook before releasing him, but the two sides have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The Broncos and Dolphins are among the teams interested in Cook. Meanwhile, Alexander Mattison will be Minnesota's primary back for 2023.

The Facts: Herbert is in line to become one of the NFL's top earners as he approaches the final years of his rookie deal. HC Brandon Staley on Monday described contract negotiations with Herbert as "ongoing" ahead of the team's annual golf charity event, according to ESPN's Lindsay Thiry.

Diehards Line: Herbert, who is under contract through the 2024 season after the Chargers exercised the former first-round pick's fifth-year option this past April, maintained his commitment to the franchise on Monday despite not having an update on the situation. "They've done such a great job of taking care of us and my message really hasn't changed," Herbert said, via Thiry. "It's been an honor to be a part of this team. It's great to come to events like this and whatever happens, happens and it's out of my control at this point." Herbert is set to make $29.5 million n 2024 under the fifth-year option, but he's scheduled to only earn $4.23 million this upcoming season. Those numbers are a far cry from a QB market that is flourishing, with Eagles' Jalen Hurts and Ravens' Lamar Jackson each earning $255 million-plus contracts this offseason. Upon the announcement of those long-term deals, Tom Telesco suggested they weren't necessarily a "blueprint" that would affect negotiations with Herbert. The Chargers GM also said this offseason that Herbert's looming payday is "a good problem to have." Indeed, the Chargers struck gold when selecting Herbert, who underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In three seasons, the 25-year-old has 14,089 passing yards, 94 touchdowns and 35 interceptions with a 66.9 completion percentage. They know a big payday is coming. It's just a matter of when.

The Facts: Hopkins is slated to fly to Nashville on Sunday for a visit with the Titans, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Diehards Line: Hopkins and Mike Vrabel were together in Houston. Now Vrabel’s team gets the first visit with Hopkins, the five-time Pro Bowl pick released by Arizona last month. Pelissero notes the Titans aren’t the only team in talks with Hopkins. But the first visit shows there is mutual interest with Tennessee.