The Arizona Cardinals made several big trades during the 2023 NFL Draft, but none of them included superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Long rumored to be available for the right price, most believed that he would be dealt during the draft. However, that didn’t happen, so will he suit up for Arizona in 2023, or will he land with a new team later on in the offseason?
Why A DeAndre Hopkins Trade Could (And Could Not) Still Happen
Why It Won’t
The biggest reason a DeAndre Hopkins trade is unlikely is that the Cardinals and the rest of the league appear to have a dramatically different price tag for Hopkins’ services. While Arizona reportedly wants a Day 2 pick, teams like the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs aren’t inclined to give up that type of compensation to a 30-year-old player with a large contract that might want a raise.
Arizona appears to have come to terms with this, and rather than lower their price tag, they’re simply content with carrying the star receiver for another year. General Manager Monti Ossenfort said he doesn’t “foresee” a trade materializing and would be content to carry Hopkins into the regular season. While that doesn’t completely close the door on a trade, it does make it less likely.
Of course, you can’t take a GM’s word at face value. Actions speak louder than words, and Arizona’s actions imply they plan on having Hopkins around for at least one more year. The only receiver they drafted was Stanford’s Michael Wilson and, stylistically, he’s nothing like DeAndre Hopkins. Even with Hopkins, the Cardinals need more receivers, and Wilson feels more like a belated Christian Kirk replacement than a DeAndre Hopkins fill-in.
Michael Wilson, Remember the Name! @mikewilllyy #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/NpkglDqglf
— K1SinceDay1 (@KSzn2021) April 30, 2023
Why A DeAndre Hopkins Trade Could Still Happen
The Arizona Cardinals had a strong draft, but they are not going to be a good football team in 2023. Kyler Murray probably won’t be himself, the roster is littered with holes, and this team should be looking toward the future. Put simply, it’s hard to envision a world where an older player like Hopkins is still good when the Cardinals are relevant again.
From Hopkins’ perspective, he probably doesn’t want to waste his final years of elite play on a bad team like this. The wide receiver has made several comments about much he likes the Bills and Chiefs, so he clearly wants to be traded.
Additionally, the three teams most likely to trade for Hopkins still have needs at wide receiver. Buffalo added Dalton Kincaid with their first-round pick, but he’s a tight end. Kansas City, meanwhile, selected Rashee Rice in the second round, but he cannot singlehandedly the shallow wide receiver depth chart.
The Ravens, meanwhile, have one of the most unpredictable wide receiver rooms in the league. On paper, Odell Beckham, Zay Flowers, and Rashod Bateman can be a fine trio and worthy weapons for Lamar Jackson. However, if Beckham shows his age, or if Flowers needs time to adjust to the NFL, or if Bateman can’t stay healthy, this team will need another receiver.
Chances are, the Cardinals will hold on to Hopkins for as long as possible, and perhaps even into the regular. However, when injuries inevitably strike or if one of those three teams feels like they need one more player to take them over the top, then Arizona will probably part ways with the veteran. It’s just going to take more than a Day 3 pick to get it done.
Main Photo: Michael Chow – USA Today Sports
