Three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is now a free agent, and the New Orleans Saints should be interested in signing the big-name pass-catcher. Hopkins might not be the player he once was, but he’d be a perfect fit in New Orleans and would give the Saints one of the best wide receiver trios in football. The only question is if the Saints are able to put together a strong enough sales pitch to convince the former first-round pick to come down to New Orleans.
We will not forget this moment forever All AZ fans are so grateful to you for everything. Go get your ring ❤️🐐@DeAndreHopkins pic.twitter.com/Hm7ocI10Ue
— M (@Mjee5d) May 26, 2023
Will DeAndre Hopkins Sign With the New Orleans Saints?
Can the Saints Give DeAndre Hopkins What He Wants?
Prior to his release, DeAndre Hopkins went on the I Am Athlete podcast to talk about what he’d want in a new team. To nobody’s surprise, most of the requests come down to finding an organization that can help his quest for a Super Bowl. Specifically, he desired a stable organization, a quarterback that loves the game, and a great defense.
Right off the bat, it’s clear that the Saints check a few of those boxes. You can say a lot about the New Orleans Saints organization, but you cannot question their commitment to winning. Year after year, this team manipulates the salary cap to create the best roster possible, and they usually do this by handing out absurd amounts of guaranteed money. This financial dedication combined with coaching stability makes the Saints one of the most secure organizations in the league, and DeAndre Hopkins will appreciate that.
Additionally, while the New Orleans Saints aren’t exactly the 1985 Chicago Bears, their defense should be good enough to win a few games. Last year, the Saints defense ranked 10th in NFL in EPA/play and 8th in defensive DVOA. While the unit did lose a few good players up front, they added plenty of young talent in the NFL Draft and should remain competitive.
The Hurdles
The Saints biggest hurdle in signing DeAndre Hopkins is the quarterback situation. On that aforementioned podcast, Hopkins talked about which quarterbacks he’d like to play with, and Derek Carr was not mentioned. The wideout spent quite a bit of time singing Josh Allen’s praises before mentioning that he’d also like to play with Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, and Lamar Jackson.
Derek Carr is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but he’s not an elite passer like any of those other guys. While the longtime Raider is more than capable of getting the ball to his target, you can understand why Hopkins would prefer to play with transcendent talents.
Fortunately, the Saints might be able to outbid the competition for DeAndre Hopkins. Money talks and, thanks to their usual offseason magic, New Orleans currently has $14.27 million in available cap space. The Chiefs, meanwhile, only have $652 thousand, while the Bills are at $1.48 million.
If the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes turns into a bidding war, the Saints should be able to win. While Derek Carr is no Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes, the Saints have a stable organization, a strong defense, and an easy path to the playoffs thanks to one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. While they may not be the betting favorites, don’t be surprised if the Saints end up being a finalist for the All-Pro wideout.
Main Photo: Michael Chow – USA Today Sports
