NFL: Ideal Landing Spots for DeAndre Hopkins
Star WR is on the market - what teams would best be able to absorb his talent and likely asking price?
By James Jefferson
Shockwaves were sent across the NFL this past Friday when the Arizona Cardinals announced that they were releasing star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Now a free agent (theoretically, at least), Hopkins will soon be free to sign with any franchise he chooses.
Hopkins is arguably at an advanced age as far as wide receivers go, given that his 31st birthday is coming up on June 6th — a long term contract should not be in the cards for him — and he’s coming off a down season in 2022. But when healthy, “Nuk” is still one of the best receivers in football with a prolific record in the league, including over 11,000 yards receiving since entering the NFL in 2013.
Many believed the 5-time Pro Bowler would be traded this off-season, but now that possibility has passed. Hopkins has publicly expressed his desire to play for only a few teams. To no one’s surprise they are all among the top tier of teams in the league currently: the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens respectively.
We have a list of our own here of three teams that would best suit the acquisition of Hopkins at this less-than-ideal time of the off-season. In each of these cases, they are teams ready to sprint into the 2023 season, a good thing given that it’d be nice to see Hopkins finally play consistently in games that mean something after years with the woeful Houston Texans and off-and-on Cardinals.
Option 1: Kansas City Chiefs
There’s no secret the Kansas City Chiefs are in need of a No. 1 receiver after trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins after the 2021 season.
To their credit, they were able to land former Steeler Juju-Smith Schuster in free agency prior to the 2022 season, and he did play a vital role for the Chiefs offense on their way to winning the Super Bowl, but the team’s leading receiver was tight end Travis Kelce. Smith-Schuster only signed for a one-year deal, he would take advantage of his free agent status for ‘23 by signing on with the New England Patriots in March.
Depth is a MAJOR issue for the reigning champs heading into this coming season, but the stars seem aligned for Hopkins to sign here. The appeals are obvious concerning KC: they have the best quarterback in football (Patrick Mahomes), a team proven to win now and who’s ready to win more and an all-time great head coach in Andy Reid. I consider the Chiefs the favorites in the B-Hop sweepstakes.
Option 2: Buffalo Bills
The reigning kings of the AFC East, the Bills can and likely will make a run at Hopkins, though they already have such a talented roster on offense, led by receiver Stefon Diggs. Therein lies the potential issue by bringing in Hopkins: who would be the No. 1 receiver in Buffalo going forward?
It sounds like a good idea on paper, but there are only so many targets for receivers to get and there’s a certain amount of touches that top-flight wideouts like Diggs and Hopkins would like to receive. This is definitely a possible option, but not extremely likely.
If Hopkins were to choose this option, he would more than likely supplant Stefon Diggs as the top receiving option on the team and would command the most attention from secondaries.
Option 3: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are in need of more depth in their receiving core. They actually tended to this by drafting TCU standout Quentin Johnston in the first round of the ‘23 Draft. But a rookie wideout isn’t the most reliable entity on a football field and LA’s established receivers, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, consistently lose games each season due to injuries.
Like the Chiefs, the Chargers are primarily a passing team and Hopkins would be a great deep threat for quarterback Justin Herbert. Hopkins is a star in need of the right platform, he could be quite a site to behold running out routes in the City of Angels.
Would the Chargers FINALLY get over the hump and overtake the Chiefs in the AFC West should Hopkins sign here? It remains to be seen.
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