DeAndre Hopkins Released By Cardinals After Three Seasons: What Are Factors Involved In The Cut?
By breaking ties with DeAndre Hopkins, the Arizona Cardinals pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the NFL offseason. After failing to locate a trade partner for the outstanding wide receiver, the Arizona team made the announcement that he had been released.
Hopkins is now free to sign with any team he chooses following his release. Hopkins signed an extension when he was dealt to the Cardinals in 2020, and the final two years of that agreement have cap numbers of $29,988,890 in 2023 and $25,453,886 in 2024. With Hopkins’ release, Arizona will save $8,911,114 in cap space while saving $21,077,776 in dead cap.
DeAndre Hopkins Released By Cardinals After Three Seasons: What Are Factors Involved In The Cut?
The decision was made a few months after Jordan Schultz of The Score reported that Hopkins may be traded by the Cardinals. Hopkins’ retention wasn’t ideal for either party, as Arizona was trying to restructure their squad in an effort to rebuild following a 4-13 campaign.
Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins. pic.twitter.com/c0f9UaabYA
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 26, 2023
After the splashy trade that brought Hopkins and Kyler Murray together in the first place, Hopkins, who had 64 catches for 717 yards and three scores in 2017 and 221 catches for 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns in his Cardinals career, got off to a good start.
The Chiefs received permission to talk with DeAndre Hopkins earlier in the offseason and spoke to him before the draft, per sources. Contract was the hurdle, and to do it now, price would have to come way down.
KC likes him, but the deal they gave Donovan Smith makes $$$ tough.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 26, 2023
The Ravens are interested in pursuing FA WR DeAndre Hopkins, per @joshweinfuss. pic.twitter.com/48k4UiCGtS
— 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) May 26, 2023
However, injuries limited him in 2021 after he hauled in 115 receptions in 2020. His performance with the squad decreased, and it is obvious that the Cardinals are in the process of rebuilding.
If there was ever a moment to take a loss, it would be this season since the Cardinals are a losing club in 2023.
On a recent appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, free-agent WR DeAndre Hopkins listed the five QBs he’d most like to catch passes from: the Bills’ Josh Allen, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 26, 2023
Lamar Jackson requested that the Ravens try to sign DeAndre Hopkins.
DeAndre Hopkins said Lamar Jackson is “one of the greats” and would love to play with him.
OBJ has been working out with D-Hop this offseason.
D-Hop in Baltimore makes too much sense.
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) May 26, 2023
For a club wanting to clear cap space and completely rebuild, that is important. When the extension was signed, Hopkins was more productive, had less injuries in the rear-view mirror, and the Cardinals thought they were competing for the NFC West.
Come be apart of something special @DeAndreHopkins pic.twitter.com/Rc9IFEyRgX
— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) May 26, 2023
DeAndre Hopkins recently said which QBs he'd like to play with. He's now a free-agent and gets to pick.
1) #Bills Josh Allen
2) #Eagles Jalen Hurts
3) #Chiefs Patrick Mahomes
4) #Ravens Lamar Jackson
5) #Chargers Justin Herbert(via @IAMATHLETEpod) https://t.co/vpTIPNYa15 pic.twitter.com/8CVt3xjS8C
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 26, 2023
Hopkins was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and he played for them for the first seven years of his career. In exchange for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round selection, and a 2021 fourth-round pick, he was moved to the Cardinals in 2020.
Breaking: DeAndre Hopkins has been released by the Cardinals, the team announced. pic.twitter.com/LyI3YlKAzK
— ESPN (@espn) May 26, 2023
Hopkins caught 221 catches for 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns in 35 games for the Cardinals.
Sharing some thoughts on DeAndre Hopkins and some possible best fits from a fantasy perspective ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Chiefs and Patriots amongst those that come to mind… pic.twitter.com/iRS7ak3FMO
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 26, 2023
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