DeAndre Hopkins provides kerosene to Ravens commerce rumors
DeAndre Hopkins threw firewood on his commerce rumors after itemizing the quarterbacks he’d wish to work with sooner or later, certainly one of which was Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.
When the Arizona Cardinals began their OTAs at present, one participant was noticeably lacking: DeAndre Hopkins.
OTAs are thought of voluntary, and simply because a participant opts out doesn’t essentially imply they’re sad with their present state of affairs. However that participant might not be pleased, both.
Hopkins was spending the weekend in Toronto as an alternative of understanding with the Playing cards, utilizing his free time to make an look on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast and stir the pot of his commerce rumors some extra.
Hopkins was rumored to be traded after the 2022 season. He wasn’t. He was rumored to be traded earlier than the 2023 NFL Draft. He wasn’t. Following draft weekend, Cardinals common supervisor Monti Ossenfort mentioned he didn’t “foresee” a Hopkins commerce occurring regardless of the group’s apparent distate for his hefty wage (Hopkins is due base salaries of $19.45 million and $14.92 million over the subsequent two seasons).
After the drawn-out and seemingly closed saga between Hopkins and the Cardinals franchise, the veteran wideout performed with many peoples’ emotions on Monday when he theorized which quarterbacks he’d wish to play with sooner or later.
And no, Kyler Murray wasn’t certainly one of them.
DeAndre Hopkins is simply begging to go away Cardinals, eyes Ravens and Lamar Jackson
DeAndre Hopkins was requested on @IAMATHLETEpod which QBs he’d like to have throwing him the ball. #Bills QB Josh Allen was shortly his first reply.
Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert rounded out his top-5.pic.twitter.com/gtepzf9JD4
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 22, 2023
Deandre Hopkins on rumors of Lamar Jackson wanting the @Ravens to accumulate him…
“I’d be mendacity if i didn’t say, It might be a honor [if my career allows me] to play with an amazing man and nice quarterback like @Lj_era8” 👀
— I AM ATHLETE (@IAMATHLETEpod) May 22, 2023
To nobody’s shock, Hopkins lists Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert because the quarterbacks he needs to catch passes from. All younger franchise signal-callers getting into their prime — who wouldn’t wish to work with these guys.
Of the gamers on the checklist, the Payments’ Josh Allen and the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson look like essentially the most possible touchdown spots (don’t overlook that the Arizona GM simply shut down all these commerce rumors, so take “possible” with a grain of salt). Each the Payments and Ravens have appeared hungriest for wideout reinforcements this offseason.
A month in the past, Jackson reportedly instructed his franchise to get Odell Beckham Jr. and Hopkins throughout his personal contract standoff. The Ravens got one and told him they couldn’t afford both. Might Baltimore change its thoughts?
Any potential commerce with the Cardinals would seemingly contain some type of draft capital (a second-round decide), and the opposite group must be prepared to tackle Hopkins’ hefty wage.
The “will they or gained’t they” dance has resumed, and the DeAndre Hopkins commerce rumors have formally resurfaced. They weren’t buried very deep to start with.