As free agency continues to slow down with more and more targets coming off the board, teams looking to improve their rosters next season may have to turn to the trade block ahead of the NFL Draft.
One player who’s reportedly been available this offseason is three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has spent the past three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Yet, now Hopkins, 30, could be on the outs as first-year general manager Monti Ossenfort puts his own imprint on Arizona’s roster while they look toward a brighter future. With star QB Kyler Murray expected to miss at least a portion of the start of the season as he continues in his ACL recovery process, Hopkins and the Cardinals may not be immediate contenders next season.
Perhaps this is the motivation behind ‘Nuk’ wanting to start fresh with what would be his third NFL team. Yet, according to one NFL insider, if the Cardinals are going to trade Hopkins and his $29.9 million cap number for 2023, they reportedly want a significant haul.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently indicated the Cardinals are seeking as much as a second-round pick, plus more. He notes Arizona may even be seeking a trade return similar to what the Carolina Panthers received for trading 26-year-old All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey last season.
For reference, the San Francisco 49ers parted with their second, third, and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a fifth-round selection in 2024 for CMC.
Based on how trade discussions have progressed thus far, the Cardinals don’t appear likely to get anything close to their desired asking price. Some reports have even scoffed at the idea of getting a second-round pick plus for Hopkins. Judging by a few other offseason trades we’ve seen involving receivers, the Cardinals might have to drastically reduce their asking price if they’re serious about parting with their five-time Pro Bowl wideout.
Related: 5 worst moves of NFL free agency so far