With the sudden release of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 30-year-old five-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl WR is sure to set to sign with a new team rather quickly.
While there are numerous teams that have expressed interest in the former Clemson standout, there are various factors a potential suitor would have to clear in signing Hopkins, specifically his $19.45 million salary that he is due for this coming season.
That along with his aforementioned age and his declining numbers since 2020, when he caught 115 passes for 1,407 yards, and in 2021 and 2022 caught a combined 106 passes for 1,280 yards.
Such a massive drop-off in production may keep a team at a distance and cause pause. But if the 6’1 212-pound Hopkins were to land in a perfect situation with a quality QB not named Kyler Murray, then there is no reason for the man called “Nuc” to explode into a bonafide No.1 again.
Below are the top five landing spots.
Philadelphia Eagles: A field goal away from possibly winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history, the Eagles are that one player away from being a problem. Hurts is set to come back for a monster year, and you already have DeVanta Smith and A.J. Brown at WR, and Dallas Goddert at TE, teams will have a head time deciding who to cover.
Good luck!
Kansas City Chiefs: This would be the sickest NFL version of the rich getting richer. Imagine losing Tyreke Hill two years ago and having the likes of JuJu Smith Schuster and now DeAndre Hopkins become that WR1 for the modern-day G.O.A.T.
What’s more scarier is how do you stop an offense that already features TE Travis Kelce across for you with Nuk on the outside?
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, Stephon Diggs, Gabe Davis on offense, two-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller on defense, and arguably the best QB in the league not named Patric Mahomes? If D-Hop is serious about getting a ring and being a part of something special, then the Bills should be at the top of his short list.
Los Angeles Chargers: After expressing his admiration for Justin Herbert, you cn’t really blame Hopkins in wanting to play with one of the league’s up-and-coming young guns. Having the chance to play across from Mike Williams and Keenan Allen has to also intrigue Hopkins, as they would form one of the NFL’s deadliest WR trios.
Cleveland Browns: Here is the dark horse, and a team to watch. You have Hopkins former–and favorite QB–in Deshaun Watson, a Pro Bowl running back in Nick Chubb that’ll force defenses to honor the run, a proven vet in Amari Cooper, a speedy playmaker in the recently-acquired Elijah Moore and a game-breaking tight end in David Njoku. The Browns also have the most cap room of any team listed above, and would be able to give him a strong market value deal. The prospect of Hopkins reuniting with Watson again is something to watch going forward.