8 DeAndre Hopkins locations for high WR on NFL market

We have now entered the second section of free company within the NFL. The primary wave of strikes is within the rearview mirror, and now groups are beginning to fill out their rosters forward of the NFL draft.

Nonetheless, there are nonetheless some very proficient gamers accessible, each in free company, and thru potential trades. Maybe the most important title out there may be that of Arizona Cardinals huge receiver DeAndre Hopkins. A possible commerce for the veteran receiver has been mentioned all through the offseason, and in keeping with a latest report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Community, commerce talks are “ramping up” amongst doubtlessly groups?

After all, as famous by Rapoport given Hopkins’ contract, there are monetary issues.

Nonetheless, he is among the high receivers within the league, so there needs to be curiosity, even when the market is hampered by the scale of his deal.

What groups could possibly be within the combine for his providers? Listed here are the highest contenders.

Chicago Bears

Having traded out of the first-overall choice, the Bears are making a push to construct round Justin Fields, no less than for the 2023 season. Including huge receiver D.J. Moore is a part of that push, however the Bears might nonetheless profit from a receiver like Hopkins. Hopkins’ capability to regulate to off-target throws, and make robust catches in site visitors/towards contact like this one towards the Minnesota Vikings, is big for a younger quarterback like Fields:

Atlanta Falcons

Proper now, the Atlanta Falcons’ beginning huge receivers are Drake London, Mack Hollins, and Josh Ali, in keeping with Ourlads.

Maybe an addition is so as.

There is perhaps some overlap in play kinds between London and Hopkins — and admittedly tight finish Kyle Pitts, who typically aligns outdoors and performs like an enormous WR — however just like the dialogue round Fields and the Bears, Hopkins presents a pleasant safety blanket to a younger, creating quarterback in Desmond Ridder.

Additionally just like the Bears? Atlanta has the cap area for such a transfer.

New England Patriots

New England Patriots followers have been clamoring for an addition to the huge receiver room for some time now.

The staff has added move catchers, in JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight finish Mike Gesicki, who operates are extra of an enormous slot receiver. However New England additionally misplaced Jakobi Meyers in free company, and traded Jonnu Smith to the Falcons.

And whereas Mac Jones is coming into his third yr, very like Fields there are nonetheless questions on whether or not he’s the long-term reply in New England. The staff employed Invoice O’Brien as their offensive coordinator this offseason, hoping to create some stability across the third-year passer, however Hopkins once more presents that type of ball-winning mentality that may be big for Jones’ improvement.

After all, that may imply a reunion between Hopkins and the person who traded him to Arizona within the first place, however maybe O’Brien and the receiver can let the previous keep up to now …

Baltimore Ravens

Photograph by Patrick Smith/Getty Photos

We’re nonetheless ready on how the Lamar Jackson scenario will play out in Baltimore. Will he return to the Ravens with a brand new deal? Play beneath the franchise tag? Or will a staff swoop in and signal the previous league MVP to a proposal sheet, that the Ravens decline to match?

On condition that the sport of quarterback musical chairs appears to be winding down, there is perhaps extra momentum behind Jackson returning to Baltimore.

Including Hopkins by way of a commerce might maybe sweeten the deal.

Minnesota Vikings

With Adam Thielen transferring to the NFC South, there may be room for an addition to the receiver room in Minnesota.

There may be not query that that is Justin Jefferson’s present, as he led the league in receiving yards, receptions, and secured Offensive Participant of the Yr honors. However with out Thielen, there may be room for one more choice throughout from Jefferson. Okay.J. Osborn has been a strong choice for the Vikings the previous two years, however is he sufficient?

With the eye Jefferson attracts from opposing secondaries, Minnesota wants a receiver who can constantly reap the benefits of the following one-on-one matchups, and Hopkins is that type of receiver.

The most important hurdle is perhaps Minnesota’s cap scenario. But when common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could make the numbers work, Hopkins could possibly be an incredible match with the Vikings.

Cleveland Browns

Now right here’s a thought.

Chemistry between quarterback and receiver is a big a part of offensive success. The truth is, here’s a large piece I wrote concerning the concept over a yr in the past, for extra on the theme of belief between a QB and a WR.

A transfer to Cleveland would reunite Hopkins with Deshaun Watson, and there may not be a greater instance of a QB having belief in a receiver than the early levels of Watson’s NFL profession. In case you suppose again to his first NFL begin, a Thursday night time sport in Cincinnati towards the Bengals, it was clear who Watson trusted probably the most.

Very clear, as Watson saved concentrating on Hopkins on curls and out routes again and again:

Cleveland has Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones on the roster, in addition to choices resembling David Bell, Anthony Schwartz, Jakeem Grant and Jaelon Darden behind them. However an 11-personnel bundle of Cooper, Peoples-Jones, and Hopkins can be robust on opposing secondaries.

Very robust.

Buffalo Payments

May the Payments get in on a transfer for Hopkins?

Coming into the offseason, discovering a working mate for Stefon Diggs gave the impression to be one of many gadgets on common supervisor Brandon Beane’s to-do record. Sadly, that record had different gadgets, such because the pending free company choices over linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and security Jordan Poyer, in addition to managing the staff’s place relating to the wage cap.

Edmunds is now in Chicago having signed with the Bears, however Poyer is again with a brand new deal, and the staff is now in a greater monetary image, due to restructured offers for Josh Allen and Von Miller.

Now maybe Beane can check out that receiver room.

The staff launched Isaiah McKenzie, and whereas they added Trent Sherfield, including one other receiver nonetheless looks as if a wise transfer. Khalil Shakir could possibly be a powerful choice for them out of the slot, and possibly the Payments get the large Gabe Davis breakout season followers have been hoping for, however placing Hopkins throughout from Stefon Diggs would supply a right away increase to Buffalo’s offense.

Houston Texans

May Hopkins return to the place it began?

The Texans added one huge receiver this offseason, signing Robert Woods in free company. However they only traded one other, transferring Brandin Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys.

The staff can be anticipated to see John Metchie III return. The previous Alabama huge receiver missed his complete rookie season after being identified with acute promyelocytic leukemia final summer season.

So the Texans do have choices within the receiver room, however provided that Houston goes so as to add a rookie quarterback with the second-overall choice, surrounding that rookie with expertise is perhaps a clever funding for common supervisor Nick Caserio.

And in spite of everything, Hopkins helped one rookie QB already in Watson. May he do the identical for a second, again the place his NFL profession started?