NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Arizona Cardinals are rebuilding and not just on the field. After firing their Coach and GM, the Cardinals, according to reports are now shopping their best offensive weapon–DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins is coming off a season where he snagged 53 passes for 717 yards and 3 TDs in just 9 games after serving a 6-game suspension. This move is a risky one for the Cardinals after they just signed QB Kyler Murray to a huge deal in the offseason, and here they are now, a month later, blowing everything up.
Hopkins for his career has been nothing but remarkable. In 10 seasons, he snagged 853 passes on 1368 targets for 11,298 yards and 71 TDs with a career Yards Per Reception of 13.2. Hopkins can get the job done and despite a down year and at the age of 30, he still has gas in the tank.
The question is, will the Cardinals mirror an NBA team and look to get him to a contender or will they just look to get the best offer available? With his talents, the phones will surely be ringing even with Hopkins still under contract for 2 more years.
With teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and others looking to bring in some veteran help at the WR position, the Cardinals have options. But for Hopkins, are any of those teams suitable?
Where Will DeAndre Hopkins Be Traded To?
While he may not have a say in where he goes, it will be a disservice for the Cardinals to trade him to a team like the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, or a reunion with the Houston Texas where those teams are clearly in a rebuild mode. Hopkins deserves better than that.
A pairing of DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Fields may be exactly what the young QB needs to grow but the team as a whole is not ready to contend with the likes of the Minnesota Vikings or the Detroit Lions. The same goes for the Texans. Even with the 2nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they will likely snag a young QB but is that team built for immediate success even if they get Bryce Young?
The Panthers have a solid ground game but their QB situation is still murky. The Saints are not any better as they have yet to decide what to do with Taysom Hill. Is he a receiver, TE, or QB? The Atlanta Falcons may not be sold on their young QB Desmond Ridder, so which of these teams are Hopkins ready?
The Jets, despite fighting till the end for a playoff spot have just as many issues at QB then the rest of the teams mentioned. One team that could make a move for Hopkins is the New England Patriots. The Pats have a young player in Mac Jones who has already led the team to one playoff berth and he’ll be entering just his 3rd year under center. The Titans have Derrick Henry and their receiving core could use some help but are they fully behind Ryan Tannehill at QB?
Looking over the league, DeAndre Hopkins could end up with a team that’s a playmaker away or he could end up with a team that guarantees he continues to get his numbers. If Hopkins and his agent are smart, they’re doing their best to work out a possible solution where the Cardinals do what’s best for the player as well as their team.
DeAndre Hopkins is not a problem player. He shows up and performs and gives 100%. But the NFL is a business and if someone such as the Texans wants to throw a first-rounder their way compared to a team like the pats who offers a 3rd, what are the Arizona Cardinals to do?
