Belichick: Hopkins 'as good as anybody I've ever coached against'

Bill Belichick offered high praise of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins ahead of their Monday Night Football matchup.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, the New England Patriots head coach said he would rank Hopkins among the top players he has ever faced and went into detail about what makes him an elite wideout.

"He's got tremendous ball skills," Belichick said, according to Chris Mason of MassLive. "He catches everything. Has great hands. He's long, so he's never covered, even if he's covered, there's a place where the ball can be that he can get it and still make the catch. Great coordination on the sidelines. And he doesn't really look it, but he's a strong kid. You see him break tackles. He's a strong kid in terms of creating separation on routes, yards after contact, tough yards like around the goal line, or that extra yard for a first down type of thing.

"He's a smart football player. Very savvy. I'd say his ball skills are at the very elite level of guys that I've seen in this league. He's up there with whoever the top guys are. The Cris Carters of the world. Guys like that. I think he's every bit as good as anybody I've ever coached against."

Hopkins has caught 49 passes for 574 yards and three touchdowns so far this season since returning from a six-game suspension.