The Arizona Cardinals have made some major changes to their franchise this offseason already, firing head coach Kliff Kingsbury. General manager Steve Keim also stepped down from his position to focus on his health. Could star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins be the next domino to fall?
DeAndre Hopkins has struggled to stay on the field the last two seasons, missing a combined 15 games because of injuries and a six-game suspension. When on the field, however, he remains one of the best players in the NFL at his position.
Despite playing in only nine games, DeAndre Hopkins led the Cardinals with 717 receiving yards on the season, catching 64 passes and scoring three touchdowns. Even at 30 years old, he looks like someone that has plenty left to offer an offense.
Who could make a deal to bring him in over the offseason? Here are four teams that should pursue a deal for DeAndre Hopkins.
The job that Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll have done in their first season as general manager and head coach of the New York Giants has been nothing short of miraculous. Many expected them to be near the top of the 2023 NFL Draft order, but instead, they are one of the final eight teams remaining in the postseason.
Daboll has done magnificently getting the most out of the players on the roster. With the salary cap situation getting cleaned up, 2023 is when Schoen can start making his impact with money to spend.
DeAndre Hopkins is someone that the Giants will certainly look into the availability of. Daniel Jones could really use a go-to No. 1 receiver, but given how well things have gone this season, the Giants may look in a different direction. A younger, less expensive wide receiver could be in their sights compared to Hopkins.
Over the last few years, we have seen what kind of impact adding a No. 1 receiver can have on a young quarterback. The Bears have a young, burgeoning quarterback in Justin Fields; now it is time to upgrade the talent around him.
DeAndre Hopkins would be a huge upgrade for Chicago at wide receiver after trying to remake the depth chart with unheralded names last offseason. Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis were all signed, while a third-round pick was used on Velus Jones Jr.
Chase Claypool was acquired ahead of the trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a second-round pick and should be a good fit. Darnell Mooney has developed a nice rapport with Fields as well.
Adding Hopkins to become the go-to player with Mooney, Claypool and tight end Cole Kmet behind him in the pecking order would give Fields a strong set of weapons to get the ball to in the passing game.
Speaking of young quarterbacks that could use an upgrade in talent around him, Mac Jones would certainly qualify. Things were messy for the New England Patriots this season on the offensive end as Jones regressed across the board.
Some of that can certainly be attributed to coaching, but adding some more talent to the mix wouldn’t hurt. New England is lacking a true go-to No. 1 option and DeAndre Hopkins would certainly bring that to the table.
The relationship between Hopkins and head coach Bill Belichick is also an important thing to keep note of. Belichick has been very complimentary of Hopkins and with a full no-trade clause, DeAndre Hopkins will have the final say over where he is traded.
The Green Bay Packers made a peculiar decision during the 2022 off-season when they traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. In addition, Marquez Valdes-Scantling departed in free agency signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
That left Aaron Rodgers with a group of pass catchers that he didn’t have much chemistry with and it showed throughout the season. The passing game was anemic as they lacked that true No. 1 receiver.
If the Packers are serious about contending again in 2023 and need some help convincing Rodgers to come back, acquiring DeAndre Hopkins is a smart move to make. He would provide the kind of go-to veteran that this offense lacked this past season, giving Rodgers a chance to recreate the magic he developed with Adams.
