What happened: Bill O'Brien praised Hopkins' ability to tap his toes, locate the boundary blindly and catch throws directed well out of bounds. James Palmer recalled the assessment as Hopkins visits Patriots camp.

Why it matters: That boundary expertise gives Hopkins a specialized technique to teach receivers. His camp stint also offers a firsthand look at two possible post-playing paths.

What to watch: The next step is whether the visit leads to a formal role and whether Hopkins favors coaching or personnel work.