While waiting for the right opportunity before the 2026 season, veteran free agent DeAndre Hopkins has revealed his interest in playing with Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Hopkins attended the Kentucky Derby and had the chance to sound off on where he would like to play. The free agent is still looking for a home, but it hasn’t stopped the veteran from pointing out where he wants to go. In his own words, he said something across the lines that would get everyone thinking.
“I think Joe is one of the best,” Hopkins said in the interview. “I love his game, his toughness. He took his team to a Super Bowl early in his career and I feel like he can get back there with a little bit of help.”
If you read closely, the free agent mentioned with “a little bit of help,” which means that he wants to join the Bengals. Other than Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as Joe Burrow’s primary targets, the team could use the veteran depth to elevate this offense. Burrow led the Bengals to a Super Bowl during the 2021 NFL season, but he hasn’t been the same since. Hopkins won’t drastically improve the offense, but it’d be interesting to see how the free agent would fit into the offense.
.@DeAndreHopkins says he'd like to play with Joe Burrow 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aEJ5mXQMQv
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 2, 2026
“I think Joe is One of the Best” – Top NFL Free Agent DeAndre Hopkins Teases Possible Bengals Signing
Meanwhile, the Bengals do have emerging star Andrei Iosivas, who broke out somewhat as a reliable slot receiver in 2024, hauling in 36 receptions for 479 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati would be okay in terms of depth, but Hopkins’s presence would be a major boost for the team’s offense. The Bengals completely overhauled the defense this offseason, signing Boye Mafe and trading for Dexter Lawrence. If the team makes a move for Hopkins, they could arguably have one of the most complete offenses in a while.
However, this isn’t to say that Hopkins is in his prime anymore. Selected as a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the former Clemson product struggled to make an impact with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense. After 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns, if the Bengals know how to use Hopkins, the team should sign him. If they can’t, the signing would be just a distant memory, but nobody should expect Hopkins to play at a high-level anymore, given that he’s turning 34 in July.
