DeAndre Hopkins has been traded once in his NFL career already, as the Houston Texans traded him to his current team, the Arizona Cardinals, in 2020. Could he be on the move again this off-season?
The Cardinals are reportedly open to moving their No. 1 receiver this offseason as the franchise is undergoing some major changes. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired after the season and general manager Steve Keim stepped down from his position to focus on his health.
Trading DeAndre Hopkins will have some challenges, starting with his salary. Two years and $34.36 million remain on his current deal, but he is reportedly seeking an extension. His cap hit for 2023 is $30.75 million with a base salary of $19.45 million. A full no-trade clause also means Hopkins will have the final say over where he is traded.
His ability to stay on the field may also give some franchises pause. DeAndre Hopkins has missed 15 games in the last two seasons because of injuries and a six-game suspension.
Plenty of teams should be making calls to the Cardinals and gauging the price it will cost to acquire him. An NFL executive that spoke to NFL Analysis Network believes the Chicago Bears will be heavily involved.
“There is one team I think will go all-out to pursue a trade for DeAndre Hopkins. The Bears are going to look to make some big moves this offseason. Don’t be shocked if they throw a hefty offer at the Cardinals this offseason.”
Chicago is desperate for an upgrade at wide receiver and needs to overhaul the position. They have drafted and developed one keeper in Darnell Mooney and hope that Chase Claypool will pan out after acquiring him ahead of the 2022 deadline for a second-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Adding Hopkins to that mix would give Justin Fields a very good group of pass catchers to target along with tight end Cole Kmet. Alas, none of those players profile to be a true No. 1 target, which DeAndre Hopkins has proven to be.
When healthy he remains one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. In nine games this season, Hopkins caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns. Kmet led the Bears with 50 receptions, 544 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games.
We have seen what adding an impact pass catcher does for young quarterbacks all around the league. This offseason, it is time for the Bears to do the same for Justin Fields and DeAndre Hopkins would be an ideal target.
