The Patriots have signed Andrew Hawkins, the wide receiver announced via the Twitter account for FS1’s Undisputed. It’s a one-year deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 
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Hawkins becomes the latest veteran addition to the Patriots this offseason, joining Brandin Cooks, Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead, and Dwayne Allen. Still, his spot on the 53-man roster is anything but a certainty since the Pats already have wide receivers Cooks, Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, and special teams ace Matthew Slater under contract. Hawkins’ contract likely doesn’t have much in the way of guaranteed cash and perhaps has no guarantees, so there probably won’t be any real fiscal consequences for New England if they cut ties.
Until today, the 31-year-old had spent his entire career to date in the AFC North. After playing for the Bengals from 2011-2013, he hooked on with the Browns as a free agent prior to the 2014 season. Hawkins was initially a focal part of the offense in Cleveland, racking up 63 catches for 824 yards and two scores in his first season there. After that, however, his role shrank. Last year, he had just 33 catches for 324 yards and three scores.
Signalling a move for amendola?
I don’t see that y release someone who knows your system for someone who was barely a factor on the browns
Not a big fan. We already have a crowded WR corp, and he’s most likely not going to stick. Just like I didn’t like offering a big amount of guaranteed money to the UDFA TE Hollister and then also trading for a TE when we will most likely have to cut at least one, if not both of them
Patriots are always working on building team depth. If an Amendola or Edelman get injured then with Hawkins they have an experienced reserve on hand as a replacement ready to contribute as a competent slot receiver. Hawkins is a high character guy, he is working on an Ivy League graduate degree from Columbia University, with recent starting experience in the league, young enough at 31 to still have value. The guarantee for Hollister was $100k, which is peanuts in the NFL, again it is the price to pay to have depth to turn to in case of injuries or performance drop off. The Patriots are always prepared.
Well I know $100k isn’t a lot by NFL standards, but that’s just his signing bonus or guaranteed money. But we gave him that and gave up draft capital knowing full well we will almost certainly have to cut one of them. Now that we have waived Street, I’m a little bit more okay with this move, but depending on how much the deal is worth, I still wouldn’t have done it
Grigson clearly wasn’t in the building yet. He would not have allowed this decision to be made. 5’7 is the receiver of his dreams.