NFL Rumors: Potential frontrunner emerges for DeAndre Hopkins
The Arizona Cardinals have launched star broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and one crew is reportedly “extra more likely to pursue him” now that he’s now not beneath contract.
All through this NFL offseason, followers and media alike requested themselves, “The place are the Arizona Cardinals going to commerce broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins?”
The reply to that query? Nowhere, because the Cardinals made the large transfer to release Hopkins from his contract, permitting him to signal with whichever crew he so chooses. Hopkins’ contract was a deterrent in commerce talks, which groups had been unwilling to tackle, and the Cardinals had been unable to get the asking worth they had been searching for.
So, is there going to be a frontrunner now that Hopkins is a free agent?
In line with Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the New England Patriots “usually tend to pursue him now that the contract isn’t as a lot of a hurdle” with Hopkins. Howe notes that “monetary competitors is an element” however that the Patriots ought to have a “degree of curiosity.”
Patriots reportedly ‘extra more likely to pursue’ DeAndre Hopkins after launch
The Patriots can be an attention-grabbing match for Hopkins. Whereas they did watch Jakobi Meyers depart in free company for a three-year, $33 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders to reunite with former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, they did usher in former Kansas Metropolis Chiefs wideout and Tremendous Bowl 57 champion JuJu Smith-Schuster on a three-year, $25.5 million deal. However, bringing in additional assist shouldn’t be out of the query, because the AFC East solely received more durable with quarterback Aaron Rodgers becoming a member of the New York Jets.
However there are going to be followers citing the purpose that the present offensive coordinator for the Patriots is Invoice O’Brien, Hopkins’ former Houston Texans head coach. While their relationship in Houston was rocky and in the end result in his commerce to the Cardinals. Can time heal all wounds?
Hopkins shined in his first season with the Cardinals, catching 115 passes for 1,407 yards and 6 touchdowns on 150 targets by means of 16 video games. However in 2021 and 2022, Hopkins was restricted to only 19 video games attributable to accidents, and a six-game performance-enhancing drug coverage violation. In 9 video games this previous season, Hopkins recorded 64 receptions for 717 yards and three touchdowns on 96 targets.
With Hopkins now being a free agent, will the Patriots be extra aggressive to make sure they offer third-year quarterback Mac Jones a top-downfield possibility? We’ll have to attend and see. However now, Hopkins has his selection as to the place he needs to play in 2023 and presumably past.
