NFL rumors: 4 teams a DeAndre Hopkins trade would do wonders for

3. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are always in the market for a legit No. 1 wide receiver, and it remains a notable hole on their roster. Or course there are prevalent concerns about the appeal of coming to Baltimore to be part of a run-heavy offense built around what Lamar Jackson does best as a dual threat for big-name wide receivers. It’s worth noting the Ravens traded a somewhat unhappy Marquise Brown to the Cardinals last offseason. He of course joined Hopkins in Arizona, even if they ultimately weren’t on the field together a lot.

There is also the lingering question of Jackson’s future in Baltimore. He has missed a chunk of time late this season due to a knee injury, and he is going to be a free agent in March. Of course, the Ravens can just franchise tag him and kick long-term contract talks down the road, but it’s worth wondering if they’ll just let him go or try to trade him in a tag-and-trade scenario.

With Jackson not under contract, the Ravens have a lot of 2023 cap space to play with right now–north of $52 million, according to Over The Cap. Depending on how things go with Jackson, a franchise tag, a relatively short new contract, etc., they may be all in for the next season or two. That would line up with Hopkins’ current contract, pending an extension/re-do he apparently will seek from a new team.

Any time a big-name receiver is available, the Ravens easily surface as a team with the need and (at least hypothetically) the motivation to add them. If Jackson is going to be back, Hopkins could approve a deal to Baltimore. Trading for Hopkins could also work the other way, and compel Jackson to sign a long-term deal.