The Arizona Cardinals’ acquisition of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins during the spring threw a lot of people for a loop. Arizona hoodwinked the Houston Texans in said deal, adding an elite play maker for young quarterback Kyler Murray.
Even with three more years left on his current deal, it looks like Hopkins will now be taken care of long term by the Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals promised DeAndre Hopkins extension after blockbuster trade
“It’s no secret that Hopkins used the wedge of wanting a new deal to expedite his exit out of Houston. It’s also been made clear to SI.com that when general manager Steve Keim consummated the trade and president and chairman Michael Bidwill signed off on it, the team assured agent Todd France that Hopkins would be taken care of,” Howard Balzer of Sports Illustrated reported.
It’s clear that Texans general manager and head coach Bill O’Brien did not want to pay Hopkins market value on an extension. That doesn’t seem to be an issue for Arizona.
DeAndre Hopkins’ current contract
The 28-year-old pass catcher is currently playing under a five-year, $81 million deal he signed with Houston back in August of 2017. He’s tied with Brandin Cooks as the fifth highest-paid receiver in the NFL in terms of average annual salary.
That does not line up with the production we’ve seen from Hopkins in recent seasons. The former first-round pick is averaging 97 receptions for 1,300 yards over the past six seasons.
Any new deal for Hopkins would likely require Arizona topping the $20 million Amari Cooper is earning on his record-breaking contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
Whether this comes to fruition ahead of Week 1 remains to be seen.