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

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.

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

4. New York Giants

Daniel Jones was revived by the arrival head coach Brian Daboll this season, and all signs point to the Giants wanting to keep him as their quarterback for a while after they did not pick up his fifth-year option last offseason. This offseason, it will be about upgrading the talent around the quarterback.

The Giants’ wide receiving corps resembled a MASH unit at some points this year, and let’s not even talk about free-agent mega-bust Kenny Golladay. By the end of the season, Isaiah Hodgins and Richie James were two of their top three receivers along with near cast-off Darius Slayton.

Right now, the Giants have the third-most cap space in the league for 2023 ($56.76 million according to Spotrac; $58.18 million according to Over The Cap). That’s obviously plenty of room to take on Hopkins’ money this year (the aforementioned $19.45 million). Next year should be no problem ($14.915 million base salary in 2024), with room to extend/rework his deal if that’s what he wants.

Hopkins could see promise in coming to the Giants, with a young-ish quarterback, a head coach who’s an offensive mind and acquiring him not having to be the only significant move they make this offseason (re-signing Saquon Barkley, etc.).

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.

2. Chicago Bears

A promising young quarterback? Check. Cap space? Check.  A clear need for a No. 1 wide receiver? Check. The Bears check three key boxes for a potential DeAndre Hopkins suitor.

Justin Fields has work to do in order to become a better passer as he moves toward his third season, there’s no denying that. But after losing Darnell Mooney this year, the wide receievers at his disposal were not impressive — to the point it’s a little scary to list out the names.

Even before Tuesday’s report Hopkins is available, and it’s worth noting the Cardinals fielded interest in him at the trade deadline, the Bears were easy to point to as a top possible suitor.

After the report, the idea of Hopkins to the Bears naturally grew.

https://twitter.com/lukesawhook/status/1612949160335925248?s=20&t=UfTLNKCwEiSLc88tLpUDpw

Multiple teams with a notable quarterback on a rookie contract have made a big move to add a legit No. 1 wide receiver in recent years. It feels like the Bears are next up to do it. If they trade the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft for extra draft capital, it could grease the skids for a deal to bring Hopkins to Chicago without them having to mortgage a lot of the future. It would of course come down to how Hopkins views the Bears then, and if he’ll approve a deal.

1. New England Patriots

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is notable for saying little or nothing. Open and unfiltered praise for opposing players does come at times, but he clearly has a strong and special level of affinity for Hopkins.

When the Cardinals played the Patriots this season, it was a mutual love-fest.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1603141602729283584?s=20&t=uFjd3N9GCqJXr98L44KUyA

"I’m glad we only have to play you every four years, man,” Belichick said, as captured by HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” “… What a career you’re having. You missed half the season, still going to lead the league in receiving.” I love you, man,” Hopkins replied. You too,” Belichick said. “You too.”"

Belichick has compared Hopkins to Hall of Famer Cris Carter, saying he’s “every bit as good as anybody I’ve ever coached against.”

Hopkins noted the praise from Belichick.

"Very meaningful,” Hopkins said. “A guy like Belichick, he’s one of the most respected people in the NFL, he’s a Hall of Fame coach, and for him to have that high praise about me, it’s definitely mutual. I love playing against him. After every game I try to make sure I say, ‘Hey, what’s up’ to him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him for sure.”"

Hopkins may love playing against Belichick. But what about playing for him? With a no-trade clause in his pocket, the Patriots having an obvious need for a top-end wide receiver and plenty of cap space, it’s a very clear fit.

There is a potential fly in the ointment though. There have been some rumors Bill O’Brien is a candidate to come back to New England as offensive coordinator. O’Brien was of course the head coach of the Texans for a time, and he made the decision to trade Hopkins to Arizona when he was also effectively the general manager in Houston.

Even as the Patriots eye a needed new offensive play-caller. If it comes down to choosing between Hopkins or O’Brien the choice is easy — Hopkins.

If they’re willing to part with the draft picks the Cardinals will surely want, with the price possibly driven down based on him having control over where he goes, the Patriots should have no problem going all-in to get a deal done bringing Hopkins to Foxboro.