It is not surprising this move happened, but the timing may be. The Arizona Cardinals finally made a move on Friday morning, releasing veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The move comes after weeks of speculation as the Cardinals move forward with a rebuild and a draft where they begin the process of restocking the shelves.
Thank You DHop 🙏 pic.twitter.com/gEL54Y72Jz
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) May 26, 2023
Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort was rumored to be open to a trade but when the value didn’t fit, the Cardinals decided to take the long view. Now, the “Hail Mary” hero from a 2020 game against the Buffalo Bills is available. Contenders from both the AFC and NFC can have the 30 yr. old for a Super Bowl run in 2023 and beyond. Arizona finally made a decision on a player hanging a $30 million salary cap charge after missing 15 of the past 26 games between suspension (PED) and injury.
Arizona Cardinals Release DeAndre Hopkins – Possible Landing Spots Emerge
Cardinals’ fans will see this news with mixed emotions. Hopkins could light up the scoreboard almost at will. A big play threat who could get down the field quickly and make the acrobatics look easy. His ability to bail out quarterback Kyler Murray often made the Cardinals quarterback look better than he is.
Hopkins kept his desires about Arizona close to the vest. While he never explicitly said he wanted to leave, he never said he wanted to stay. In recent days, he did offer a list of quarterbacks he would like to play with. He also was not shy about what type of organization he would like to play for.
“What I want is stable management upstairs, that’s something I haven’t really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston and then to Arizona.” Hopkins would add, “A QB who loves the game, a QB who brings everybody on board with him, not just himself but everybody around him … and a great defense. A great defense wins championships.” Courtesy of azcardinals.com.
The Clemson alum was acquired in 2020. In addition, Arizona received a fourth-round pick for a second-round pick, running back David Johnson and an additional future fourth-round selection. In Hopkin’s first year as a Cardinal, he had a franchise-record 115 catches for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns. The one-time Houston Texan would earn second-team All-Pro honors. Since his first season, it has been a rough go for Hopkins.
Injury was an issue in year two, missing seven games with a hamstring and then a knee injury. Still, Hopkins had a solid season, with eight touchdowns in 10 games, 42 catches for 572 yards. 2022 saw Hopkins suspended six games after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
What lies ahead for Hopkins is a shot, a legitimate shot, at a ring and lifting the Lombardi Trophy. The free agent receiver is not a long-term player for a team, but a short-term option. Primary interest could come from the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and the Buffalo Bills.
With Hopkins’ now vacating the Desert Southwest, the Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver will be Hollywood Brown. Rondale Moore, Zach Pascal, Greg Dortch, and third-round pick Michael Wilson will fill out the depth chart.
Main Photo: Michael Chow – USA Today Sports
