DeAndre Hopkins wants a new team, not a raise
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is looking for a new NFL home after a failed three-year stint in Arizona, but Hopkins implied over the weekend that his desired location would be less about the money involved.
“Hopkins doesn’t want a raise,” Hopkins tweeted Sunday, which was eventually deleted.
Trade rumors for Hopkins, a four-time All-Pro, began to circulate this offseason unsurprisingly with the Cardinals facing a complete rebuild.
The Arizona Cardinals 2022 season was a complete dumpster fire from beginning to end. Hopkins did not play for the first six weeks because of suspension for PED use, while Kyler Murray tore his ACL in Week 14 against New England, which completely doomed the Cardinals’ season.
After finishing dead last in the NFC West at 4-13, the organization cleaned house from top to bottom. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury was unsurprisingly fired. General manager Steve Keim also stepped away from the team after a decade-long run as Arizona’s general manager. Even the team’s owner, Michael Bidwill, has come into the spotlight amid accusations of harassment, misconduct and cheating.
With two years left on his contract, Hopkins is due to make $34.4 million total with a $19.5 million base salary in 2023, per Over The Cap. His 2023 cap hit will be $30.0 million and $25.5 million in 2024.
Hopkins’ deleted tweet implies he is not concerned about money, and more so that he is officially in the ring-chasing stage of his career.
Hopkins turns 31-years-old in June and has not displayed the dominance that made him the league’s best receiver before being suspended. Potentially joining a team like Buffalo for less money may be the best move for Hopkins.
Best Potential Team Fits for Hopkins:
While DeAndre Hopkins may potentially be past his prime, I seriously doubt any NFL team would deny he is still a threat to opposing defenses. Multiple teams are likely discussing acquiring him via trade from Arizona right now.
The Chicago Bears still currently have the most cap space in the league. Pairing DeAndre Hopkins with offseason addition DJ Moore would immediately elevate the Bears’ offense. Chicago also received multiple draft picks from Carolina’s trade for their number one overall pick, meaning they are one of the teams with the most ammo to pursue Hopkins.
With two first-round picks and cap space as well, the Lions could potentially make a splash in the Hopkins sweepstakes. As a team on the cusp, Hopkins lining up alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams could be the piece to the puzzle that gets the Lions into the playoffs.
If Hopkins is sincere about not caring about money, he is likely hoping to be traded to a genuine contender. Teams such as the Bengals, Chiefs, Bills and Chargers would be the most exciting landing spots, considering the best quarterback Hopkins has ever had is Murray.
Whether or not Hopkins gets any influence on where he is shipped to by the Cardinals awaits to be seen, however.
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