NFL rumors: 4 teams a DeAndre Hopkins trade would do wonders for
Dec 25, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) warms up before their game agaionst the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals will reportedly attempt to trade wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, and these four teams should especially try to make a deal.
The Arizona Cardinals are heading into a reset with a new general manager and head coach after the firing of Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim stepping down. Add in quarterback Kyler Murray suffering a torn ACL late this season, and there are plenty of questions in Arizona.
According to Jordan Schultz of The Score on Tuesday, the Cardinals will try to trade wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. Owner Michael Bidwell plans to express the idea of moving Hopkins to prospective general manager candidates.
Hopkins has two years and $34.36 million left on his contract, and according to Schultz he will likely seek a new deal from a new team. He is slated to make $19.45 million in base salary this year, with a $30.75 million cap hit for 2023.
According to Over The Cap, here’s how a Hopkins trade breaks down in terms of their balance sheet.
Pre June-1 trade: $22.6 million dead money; $8.15 million in cap savings
Post-June 1 trade: $11.3 million dead money: $19.45 million in cap savings
A before or after June 1 trade designation would be mostly procedural if an agreement is reached before then, in terms of a deal being official and Hopkins being able to be part of his new team. He also has a no-trade clause, so he has control over the process and where he will go.
The last couple of seasons haven’t been great for Hopkins, due to an injury that shortened his 2021 and a suspension that delayed his 2022 debut. But from Week 7, when he returned from his suspension, to Week 14, the game Murray was injured in, Hopkins led the NFL in receptions (56) with the fourth-most receiving yards (653) over that span.
Hopkins will turn 31 in June, which may turn some teams away when paired with the idea he’ll want a new contract more in line with the top of the wide receiver market.
But if the Cardinals are motivated to move Hopkins, it will get done and there will not be a lack of suitors.
In particular, these four teams should have a high level of interest in DeAndre Hopkins.
