Acquainted darkish horse rising in DeAndre Hopkins race

Control DeAndre Hopkins probably reuniting with Deshaun Watson on the Cleveland Browns.

It wouldn’t be the strangest factor on this planet to see DeAndre Hopkins catching passes from Deshaun Watson once more.

Not that way back, Hopkins was Watson’s go-to receiving goal with the Houston Texans. A lot has occurred since 2019, for higher or worse. For now, Watson enters 12 months two with the Cleveland Browns, whereas Hopkins is seeking to discover a new place to play after three years with the Arizona Cardinals. Cleveland doesn’t have a ton of cap space, however the Browns should do one thing.

Apparently, Hopkins isn’t opposed to reuniting with Watson in Cleveland in his NFL free agency.

Let’s talk about why the Browns may be one of many higher touchdown spots for Hopkins this offseason.

NFL rumors: DeAndre Hopkins is open to a Deshaun Watson reunion in Cleveland

Though they had been Texans teammates for 4 years beforehand, let’s additionally not overlook the Clemson Household bond Hopkins and Watson share. Whereas Hopkins had already turned professional by the point Watson acquired on campus, they seem to have a reasonably deep and multi-faceted connection. Connectivity will play a giant half within the Browns making a cost in what will likely be a deep AFC North.

The expectation getting into 2023 is it’s Cincinnati Bengals’ division to lose, with the Baltimore Ravens not that far behind them, and the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers duking it out for third place. Whereas 2020 is firmly behind us, it additionally wasn’t that way back. Cleveland confirmed at the least throughout that season it will probably considerably maintain its personal with the perfect groups the AFC might hope to supply.

I’d anticipate Watson to be nearer to his 2019 Texans self this season than what we noticed out of him in a smaller pattern measurement final 12 months in Cleveland. His authorized state of affairs just isn’t front-page information anymore. Even when it was gross and self-inflicted, he has a job to do, which is to be the franchise quarterback the Browns haven’t had since … Bernie Kosar. Maybe Hopkins can assist him be that?

Even when Cleveland just isn’t seen as a top-half staff within the AFC, the Browns will play a fourth-place schedule subsequent 12 months. We have a tendency to love their head coach in Kevin Stefanski, in addition to their basic supervisor in Andrew Berry. Possession is a totally totally different beast, however so long as the Browns have Berry and Stefanski pulling in the identical route, we will get behind these Ivy League guys.

So does Group Ivy League get again within the win column a bit extra? Determine a approach to inject some extra Clemson Household into the equation! Remember the fact that if the Browns don’t signal Hopkins, he’s in all probability going to a different AFC staff, and one with critical Super Bowl aspirations. I feel the Detroit Lions are the perfect match for him, however Cleveland makes extra since than Buffalo or Kansas Metropolis.

The upside to including Hopkins to the Browns is much much less dangerous than going for broke with Watson.