NFL Exec Says DeAndre Hopkins Doesn't Have Much Left: 'He Can't Run Anymore'
May 30, 2023
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals catches a pass and runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Veteran free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was arguably the best player at his position during his prime, but it sounds like there are some around the NFL who believe he's no longer the game-changer he once was.
While Hopkins remains unsigned following his surprising release by the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer asked a longtime league executive what the 30-year-old has left.
"Not much," the exec answered. "He can't run anymore."
Hopkins missed eight games last season, including six from a suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.
Despite appearing in just nine games, he still led the Cardinals with 717 receiving yards while also posting 64 catches and three touchdowns.
Another league exec offered a more optimistic evaluation of Hopkins, telling Breer: "He's still a good player. Good route-runner, big, physical target that can play a ball in the air. He's still a threat."
Wherever Hopkins lands, he should be motivated to put his back-to-back lackluster seasons behind him and return to the form that earned him five Pro Bowl selections.
DeAndre Hopkins Rumors: Some With Cardinals Were Upset WR Missed End of 2022 Season
May 29, 2023
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts prior to an NFL Football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Just a few days after the Arizona Cardinals released star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, reports have started to surface that the relationship between the two parties had begun to sour in recent months.
Kyle Odegard, a former AZCardinals.com writer who now works for Compare.Bet, reported that the organization got upset with Hopkins after he sat out the final two games of the season despite being healthy.
Hopkins was listed with a nagging knee injury for those games.
It's hard to gauge how much of a gripe the organization may have had with Hopkins, considering there is a completely new regime in the front office with general manager Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon.
And if Hopkins was healthy, that means the Cardinals put out false injury reports for those two weeks. Then-coach Kliff Kingsbury said that the star wideout may have been able to play through the injury if the team was playing meaningful games, but they wanted to be cautious.
It's not uncommon for star players to sit out of late-season games if their team is already out of playoff contention, especially if they're carrying a bit of an injury.
Hopkins is now looking for the third team of his career and he'll be an immediate boost to whatever offense he lands on. One of the most productive receivers in the league over the past decade, he has two seasons of over 1,500 yards and four with over 100 receptions.
Budda Baker to Report to Cardinals 'When It's Time to Be There' Despite Trade Request
May 27, 2023
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: NFC strong safety Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts as he takes the stage during an NFL Pro Bowl football game at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker turned heads this offseason with a trade request, but that apparently won't stop him from arriving at training camp when the time comes.
"I'll be there when it's time to be there," he said during a discussion with Cameron Cox of 12 News in Arizona:
🚨EXCLUSIVE🚨
For the first time this offseason.. @Buddabaker3 talks about his current situation with the #AZCardinals and tells me he plans on being at training camp. Catch the full interview Sunday on 12Sports Tonight at 10:30. @12SportsAZ
The comments come as the safety has been absent from voluntary offseason workouts and organized team activities.
He could be in line for a new contract in the near future since he has a club option for 2024 before potential free agency in 2025. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in April that Baker either wanted to be traded or become the highest-paid safety in the league.
According to Spotrac, the 27-year-old is ninth in the NFL among safeties with a total contract value of $59 million. That is well below Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers, who paces the position group at $76.5 million.
Around that time, Baker notably posted a GIF of Michael Jordan from The Last Dance documentary highlighting when things "became personal" for the all-time great:
Kyle Odegard of Seven Star Digital reported "that Budda Baker MJ tweet is very likely about unhappiness with the Cardinals."
Yet the Washington product seemed ready to focus on football in his latest comments.
"For me personally, I'm just letting the business aspect handle the business aspect. Letting my agent handle all that type of stuff," he told Cox. "I'm continuing to have tunnel vision on my work ethic, being the best person I can be outside of football and just enjoying life. Enjoying this offseason, enjoying working hard each and every day, and just excited to go back and play football again."
A trade wouldn't be particularly surprising considering where the Cardinals are as an organization.
They are coming off a 4-13 campaign with a new general manager (Monti Ossenfort) and head coach (Jonathan Gannon) and just released wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. What's more, quarterback Kyler Murray may miss time in 2023 as he recovers from a torn ACL.
That screams rebuilding, and trading a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro at safety who is in the middle of his prime would likely help Arizona get some significant draft capital back in return.
NFL Rumors: DeAndre Hopkins Expects 'Significant' FA Contract After Cardinals Release
May 27, 2023
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 27: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Despite being a late addition to free agency after being released by the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, DeAndre Hopkins isn't looking to sign a low-cost contract.
Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Hopkins is expecting a "significant" deal from a team now that he's on the open market.
While it's not a surprise that Hopkins would want to secure another lucrative deal, one of the reasons he may not have been traded is because opposing teams had concerns about the money he was owed on his deal with the Cardinals.
That contract had two years and $54.5 million remaining on it before Hopkins was released. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted on March 21 any potential trade likely would have required the five-time Pro Bowler to restructure his contract.
Florio also noted another potential complicating factor is Hopkins' work with Saint Omni. The mysterious advisor has raised concerns from the NFL, which included the league issuing a memo to all 32 teams last offseason explaining he's not an NFLPA-certified agent and thus prohibited from negotiating on behalf of players.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith and Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil have signed new deals with Omni advising them.
According to Florio, some teams might be reluctant to do business with Omni and that could impact Hopkins' market.
There are currently nine teams with at least $15 million in cap space. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, two clubs often connected to Hopkins in trade rumors, both have less than $2 million in cap space.
The Baltimore Ravens, who have also been linked to Hopkins, have about $12.4 million available to spend.
Hopkins has only played in 19 games over the past two seasons due to injuries and a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The 30-year-old finished 2022 with 717 yards and three touchdowns on 64 receptions in nine games.
As excitement grows for the most recent draft class with ongoing minicamps, each organization's front office must keep in mind the next steps toward proper…
3 Instant Reactions to DeAndre Hopkins' Cardinals Release After Trade Rumors
May 26, 2023
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 12: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals looks towards the sideline against the New England Patriots during the second half at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
In a surprise twist, the Arizona Cardinals aren't getting anything for DeAndre Hopkins.
The team announced on Friday it released the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver. He wasn't expected to play for the Cardinals in 2023, but letting him go instead of trading him away for future assets does seem strange.
Hopkins was still a productive player last season with 64 receptions, 717 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He sat out the first six games of the year due to a suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
While Hopkins figures out the next step in his career, here are some takeaways from the Cardinals' decision to move on from the 10-year veteran.
Hopkins' Contract Made a Trade Difficult
Given how long trade rumors have been following Hopkins around, and when nothing happened with him during the draft, it's safe to assume the answer to why this situation took so long to reach a resolution was related to finances.
Hopkins' contract for the 2023 season included a $19.45 million base salary and $30.7 million cap hit. No other wide receiver in the league was going to have a cap hit of at least $30 million.
The Chicago Bears would have been the only team with enough cap space to fit Hopkins' contract onto their books without having to make any adjustments.
Chicago could certainly use more receiver help even after acquiring DJ Moore from the Carolina Panthers, but investing in an aging soon-to-be 31-year-old player isn't the best use of resources for a team that still has a lot of holes on the roster.
Arizona's Rebuild Is Going to Be Fine
There might be a feeling of disappointment from Cardinals fans that their front office was unable to get anything for Hopkins.
Realistically, though, what were they hoping to get?
We already discussed Hopkins' contract situation, which limited his value on the market. He's at an age when most wide receivers are declining from their physical peak.
Top 5 WRs age 30+ AJ Green, 718 yards Thielen, 686 Beasley, 640 M Jones, 624 E Sanders, 606
WRs turning 30 next year: D Adams K Allen Lockett Hopkins Woods OBJ Landry
Speaking of a physical decline, Hopkins has only been able to play 19 games over the past two seasons. He missed eight of Arizona's final 10 games during the 2021 season, including the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, due to hamstring and knee injuries.
Hopkins sat out the final two games last season due to a knee injury.
The Cardinals turned the page on the previous era when they hired Monti Ossenfort as general manager and Jonathan Gannon as head coach.
Ossenfort hit a home run in the draft when he was able to parlay the Houston Texans' desire for Will Anderson Jr. into a trade that landed the Cardinals an extra first-round pick from Houston in 2024.
ESPN's Football Power Index gives the Cardinals and Texans the best odds to earn the No. 1 draft pick next year. It's not unreasonable to think Arizona could end up with the top two picks.
If that happens, the Cardinals could have their next skill-position core in place with Caleb Williams at quarterback and Marvin Harrison Jr. at wide receiver. They could also use one or both picks on the trade market for a significant return.
Regardless of what happened with Hopkins, the door to Arizona's future was unlocked with that draft-day trade with the Texans. An extra third- or fourth-round pick for Hopkins would have been better than nothing, but it doesn't change the franchise's trajectory.
Bills Need to Call Hopkins ASAP
Hopkins and the Buffalo Bills haven't exactly been hiding their mutual affection for one another.
During a recent appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast, Hopkins cited Josh Allen first when asked which quarterbacks he would like to have throwing him the football.
Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert were the others listed by Hopkins.
DeAndre Hopkins was recently asked on @IAMATHLETEpod the QB's he'd love to play with 👀
▪️ Josh Allen ▪️ Jalen Hurts ▪️ Patrick Mahomes ▪️ Lamar Jackson ▪️ Justin Herbert
The Bills' attempt to elevate Gabriel Davis to the No. 2 wide receiver last season didn't work. He was fine with 836 yards and seven touchdowns on 48 receptions, but week-to-week consistency wasn't there for the 24-year-old.
Davis had eight games with fewer than 40 receiving yards in 2022. Stefon Diggs had 61 more targets and 60 more receptions than anyone else on Buffalo's roster last season.
There will almost certainly be competition for Hopkins' services. The Baltimore Ravens have been circling as a potential landing spot, especially in the wake of Hopkins saying on the same podcast he praised Allen that it "would be an honor" to play with Jackson.
The New York Jets were in the market for Odell Beckham Jr. before he signed a one-year deal with the Ravens.
Aaron Rodgers is notoriously picky about what he wants from his receivers. The Jets have already brought in his former teammates, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb.
Hopkins hasn't played with Rodgers, but his route running and strong hands to win contested catches would likely make for an easy adjustment.
There's also the element of gamesmanship going on with the Bills and Jets. They are expected to be fighting it out, along with the Miami Dolphins, for the top spot in the AFC East.
Hopkins could be a potential difference-maker for either Buffalo or New York if he stays healthy in 2023.
DeAndre Hopkins' Release Stuns NFL Twitter as Speculation over Next Team Runs Rampant
May 26, 2023
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins runs down field against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Cardinals left the NFL world buzzing Friday with the announcement that they released veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins with two years remaining on his contract.
Hopkins had been the constant subject of trade rumors and speculation this offseason, but with the Cards apparently unable to find a suitable offer on the trade market, they decided to cut ties with the five-time Pro Bowler, making him a free agent.
That shocking move led to plenty of reaction on Twitter, including opinions and predictions from experts regarding where Hopkins could or should sign:
Teams that should aggressively pursue D Hop:
Detroit New England Carolina Dallas Atlanta Indy
+ Buffalo, KC, NYG tho I think cap might be tricky
No clue where Hopkins will sign. He probably doesn’t know yet either. But could see a LOT of teams interested. Cleveland & reunite with Watson? Jets & Rodgers? Ravens & Lamar? KC has been a rumor. Who wouldn’t wanna play w/ Mahomes? Could see Jerry wanting him in DAL. Your guess?
On a recent appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, free-agent WR DeAndre Hopkins listed the five QBs he’d most like to catch passes from: the Bills’ Josh Allen, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.
Totally speculative — but a short-term deal with the Chiefs would make so much sense to me. The fact Hopkins is available via free agency shows you his value needs to be improved. Nowhere better to do it right now than KC. Win-win. https://t.co/l4QzxFOjuj
Giants???? Patriots??? This is an example of why looking forward and saying "We need to do [x] because there's nobody on the WR market" isn't a good idea. Sometimes a DeAndre Hopkins shows up in May! https://t.co/f2TRuY4eig
Multiple teams were mentioned as logical landing spots for Hopkins, but perhaps none makes more sense than the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hopkins has mentioned his desire to play with two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs have a clear need at wide receiver after losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to the New England Patriots in free agency.
The Pats were also mentioned in numerous tweets, but it is unclear if Hopkins would want to play under offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien after the two didn't see eye to eye during their time together with the Houston Texans.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is another player who Hopkins has praised, and he would form a spectacular one-two punch with Stefon Diggs, but the Bills don't have a massive need at wideout and may not have the money needed to sign D-Hop.
The Baltimore Ravens have rebuilt their receiving corps this offseason by signing Odell Beckham Jr. and selecting Zay Flowers in the first round of the draft. Quarterback Lamar Jackson already has a hugely upgraded group of weapons, and Hopkins could be the finishing touch.
Hopkins figures to have a fairly robust market for his services, and where he ends up could ultimately depend on what he values more between landing a significant contract and contending for a Super Bowl. Most top teams may not be able to offer him much money.
DeAndre Hopkins Released by Cardinals After 3 Seasons amid NFL Trade Rumors
May 26, 2023
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 18: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins gets set for a play during an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos on December 18, 2022 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, CO. (Photo by Steve Nurenberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals are getting a makeover this offseason.
The latest major move for the team is a bombshell as it announced the release of superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has been the subject of trade speculation for much of the offseason.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the move is not considered a post-June 1 designation. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network noted the financial implications of the move:
It’s not a post-June 1 cut, so the #Cardinals clear $7,388,890 in 2023 cap space — eating all $22.6M in dead money now — and DeAndre Hopkins will be off the books in 2024.
Arizona held out as long as it could but couldn’t trade Hopkins’ contract. Now he hits the open market.
The Cardinals had already fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury this offseason, replacing him with former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. General manager Steve Keim also stepped down, with Monti Ossenfort taking his place. Superstar defensive lineman J.J. Watt retired. And now, in arguably the biggest move of them all, the Cardinals have cut Hopkins altogether.
The 30-year-old had another strong season in 2022, catching 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns in just nine games. He missed the team's first six games after being suspended for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy and the last two of the season with a knee injury.
The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection also didn't always have Kyler Murray throwing him passes following his return from suspension, as the starting quarterback dealt with a hamstring injury in November and was ultimately lost for the season in December due to an ACL tear.
Still, Hopkins was excellent when he did play and gave Arizona a dangerous one-two combination at wideout alongside Marquise Brown.
But in January, The Score's Jordan Schultz reported that owner Michael Bidwill planned to float the idea of moving Hopkins in a trade with potential general manager candidates.
Perhaps Bidwill was partially motivated after Hopkins was the "subject of a flurry of trade calls" before the NFL's trade deadline in early November, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Per that report: "Keim was unwilling to move Hopkins. What's unclear is if Keim wasn't doing a deal at any price or if teams simply didn't meet his price."
Hopkins said last week on I AM ATHLETE that he knew of interest from the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots.
In the end, Hopkins' contract may have been a dealbreaker. He carried salary-cap hits of $30.8 million in 2023 and $26.2 million in 2024.
There's little chance Hopkins will be able to get that kind of money on the open market. He might use Odell Beckham Jr.'s contract with the Baltimore Ravens as a rough framework. Beckham will collect at least $13.9 million from Baltimore and can earn up to $18 million for one year.
As much as the Hopkins trade saga dragged on, his market could accelerate rather quickly now that he's a free agent.
DeAndre Hopkins Trade Rumors: Cardinals WR Unlikely to Move Until Nov. Deadline
May 26, 2023
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on as he takes the field prior to an NFL Football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Despite plenty of buzz this offseason, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is reportedly nowhere close to being traded.
Mike Jones of The Athletic said he spoke to six anonymous NFL executives, all of whom had heard "no chatter" recently about teams pursuing a trade for Hopkins. Two of the execs added that a Hopkins trade "likely" won't happen until around the time of the NFL trade deadline in November.
Hopkins is under contract for two more seasons with a base salary of $19.45 million in 2023 and $14.915 million in 2024.
Aside from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets, it can be argued that no major name has been more present in trade rumors and speculation this offseason than Hopkins.
With quarterback Kyler Murray recovering from a torn ACL, the Cards feel like a team in rebuild mode that could potentially have the worst record in the NFL in 2023.
Since Hopkins will turn 31 years old next month and would presumably like to contend for a Super Bowl in the near future, Arizona may not be the most sensible fit for him.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported in March that trade talks involving Hopkins were "ramping up," but nothing came of them and he remained on the Cardinals' roster through the draft, which may be a sign that the Cards' asking price was too high in the eyes of interested teams.
While no trade has happened, Hopkins has not been shy about publicly identifying some teams and quarterbacks he would like to play with if a trade does happen.
During a recent appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast (h/t Jason Owens of Yahoo Sports), Hopkins named Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers as some of the signal-callers he would like to join forces with.
Hopkins is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro who has consistently been among the NFL's top wideouts since entering the league with the Houston Texans in 2013.
He has reached the 1,000-yard mark on six occasions, reeled in at least 100 catches four times and scored double-digit touchdowns three times.
In his first season with the Cardinals in 2020, Hopkins finished with 115 receptions for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns. The past two seasons have been a struggle due to injuries and other factors, however.
An injury cost Hopkins seven games in 2021, and he was then suspended for the first six games of 2022 for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, and missed eight games overall.
Hopkins was still hugely productive when on the field last season, recording 64 grabs for 717 yards and three touchdowns in nine games, and he could still prove to be an ideal trade target for a team in need of wide receiver help during the 2023 campaign.
DeAndre Hopkins Lists Top 5 QBs He'd Like to Play with Including Josh Allen, More
May 22, 2023
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 12: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals looks towards the sideline against the New England Patriots during the second half at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The rumor mill has been swirling around Arizona Cardinals star receiver DeAndre Hopkins all offseason as a potential trade target.
And just a few weeks after seemingly stating his commitment to the organization in an Instagram post, the five-time All-Pro may have just stoked the fire a little more.
Hopkins made an appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast on Monday and talked about what he wants out of an organization and a quarterback for the later half of his career in the league.
"What I want is stable management upstairs," he said. "I think that's something I haven't really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston and then to Arizona. I've been through three or four GMs in my career, so a stable management. A QB who loves the game, a QB who brings everybody on board with him and pushes not just himself but everybody around him ... and a great defense. A great defense wins championships."
Brandon Marshall also took a moment to ask Hopkins which quarterbacks he'd like to play with and he named five of the best young signal-callers in the NFL in Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert.
DeAndre Hopkins was recently asked on @IAMATHLETEpod the QB's he'd love to play with 👀
▪️ Josh Allen ▪️ Jalen Hurts ▪️ Patrick Mahomes ▪️ Lamar Jackson ▪️ Justin Herbert
Now, while Hopkins obviously didn't mention current Cardinals' quarterback Kyler Murray on his list, he did go on to mention that he does believe that the former No. 1 pick does love the game and that he thinks Arizona is in a good place with its new front office led by general manger Monti Ossenfort.
He did, however, note that Murray is coming off a torn ACL that he suffered towards the end of last season.
It was particularly interesting that Hopkins spoke so glowingly about Allen and the Bills, who have been connected with the star wideout for a good portion of the offseason.
Hopkins would be a seamless fit with Allen and the rest of Buffalo's offense as the No. 2 target behind fellow All-Pro Stefon Diggs. They would immediately become the most potent receiving duo in the league.
And Allen would likely love getting the chance to throw deep, 50-50 balls to someone with Hopkins' speed and frame at 6-foot-1 with a 6-foot-7 wingspan.
While he missed a six games in 2022 due to a PED suspension, Hopkins still finished as the Cardinals' leading receiver with 717 yards and three touchdowns.
He has two seasons with over 1,500 yards and four with at least 100 receptions.
