Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has long been the subject of trade rumors following a shortened 2022 season in which he was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Now that general managers and other front office figures are meeting up in Indianapolis during the NFL Scouting Combine, trade talks surrounding Hopkins are heating up.
According to Sportsnaut NFL Insider Benjamin Allbright, Hopkins is being shopped by Arizona during the annual event. In particular, the Kansas City Chiefs have come up as a potential landing spot.
New Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon spoke to the media from Indianapolis this week. He didn’t seem too committed to Hopkins returning in 2023.
“I’m not sure,” Gannon said. “We are looking at evaluating everyone. I know this: he’s a premier receiver you have to have a plan for.”
Considered one of the most-talented wide receivers in the NFL since entering the league as a first-round pick of the Houston Texans back in 2013, Hopkins has seen a downtick in production recently.
Back in 2021 with the Cardinals, he caught 42 passes for 572 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games. Hopkins missed substantial time with a both a hamstring injury and a torn MCL to his knee. Once Nuke returned from suspension this past season, the five-time Pro Bowler seemed to look like his old self.
- DeAndre Hopkins stats (2022): 64 receptions, 717 yards, 3 TD, 66.7% catch rate
Hopkins was able to do this despite having to catch balls from the likes of Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley and David Blough after starter Kyler Murray suffered a torn ACL in Week 14.
Related: Ideal DeAndre Hopkins landing spots
As for the Chiefs’ reported interest in Hopkins, it has to scare opposing AFC teams big time. Patrick Mahomes and Co. hoisted the Lombardi Trophy last month despite having dealt away star wide receiver Tyreek Hill during the 2022 offseason.
One of the issues for Arizona is Hopkins’ contract. He’s set to count $30.75 million against the cap in 2023. As currently constructed, said contract would result in a $22.6 million dead cap hit if the Cardinals traded DeAndre Hopkins. This means that a contract extension/restructure would have to be in the cards for a deal to come together.
Sportsnaut NFL insider Benjamin Allbright contributed to this report.