HomeSportsSeven teams that could sign DeAndre Hopkins following his release - UnlistedNews

Seven teams that could sign DeAndre Hopkins following his release – UnlistedNews

DeAndre Hopkins is a free agent. At the end of May.

Who would have thought?

The Arizona Cardinals released the star receiver in a surprise move on Friday. They seemed interested in trading him; then by draft day they seemed uninterested in trading him. Seems like they went overboard, waiting for the right trade package that never came. And ultimately, the Cardinals and Hopkins have gone their separate ways.

Now, Hopkins will have the opportunity to choose his next landing site. And he will not lack suitors. He may be 30 years old, but he’s still one of the best receivers in the NFL, even if he’s not the best wide receiver anymore. So let’s dig into where he could go by 2023 (and beyond).

New England Patriots

New England is expected to enter the mix, according to a source close to the situation. The Patriots had been interested in Hopkins, but were unable to do anything about Arizona’s trade demands and the catcher’s contract. Now that he is a free agent, the situation changes. Maybe he and Bill O’Brien needed to patch up their differences with Houston. But Hopkins would instantly be the No. 1 option for Mac Jones and the Patriots, a real game changer for an offense that lacks one.

buffalo bills

Buffalo looked one-dimensional for most of 2022, with an over-reliance on Josh Allen’s deep game and legs. Hopkins is an absolute jumpball warrior, but he’s also an excellent possession receiver at this point in his career. He may not start the game fast (which is why the Bills appear to have drafted tight end Dalton Kincaid in Round 1), but Hopkins would bring a much-needed element to the offense.

new york jets

Sensing a pattern here? Yes, most of the AFC East will be looking for Hopkins. Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson are a solid 1-2 punch, but not quite the same as Wilson and Hopkins. That’s a whole different level of talent. So as the Jets try to stock up on talent for Aaron Rodgers, Hopkins seems like a legitimate option for them. Of course, he could upset manager Quinnen Williams, who is awaiting a contract extension. But maybe the Jets can do both.

[Quinnen Williams changes Twitter bio amid contract dispute with Jets]

New York Giants

Our first NFC team, the Giants, couldn’t make things work with Kenny Golladay, a wide receiver who was supposed to provide the constant threat of a big play. So what about Hopkins? He and tight end Darren Waller would make a compelling pairing, particularly in the red zone. Hopkins is much better than the group in New York: Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell. They all have potential, but not much production.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have a handful of small and medium receivers. And none of them is a proven entity. That’s just fine for Patrick Mahomes, who no longer needs a guy like Tyreek Hill to win a championship. (See: Super Bowl LVII.) But if the Chiefs can catch Hopkins, my bet is that they will catch Hopkins. He would make his offense so much better.

[Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes no longer needs a supporting cast. He creates one]

Baltimore Ravens

Why stop at Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers? The Ravens have been rebuilding their receiving corps with urgency this offseason. They signed Beckham earlier this offseason and then drafted Flowers in the first round last month.

It’s all felt like a peace offering for Lamar Jackson, who finally signed a contract extension with the team this month. The truth is that we do not know where Beckham will be physically in his injury recovery process. And we don’t know how quickly Flowers can have an impact. (This was not perceived as the most impressive rookie crop of wide receivers.) So Hopkins can help create more certainty in a position group that, while refreshed, has some lingering concerns.

Detroit Lions

Speaking of uncertainty, the Lions will be without Jameson Williams in their first six games for violating the league’s wagering policy. And we don’t know how good he’ll look when he returns, since he’s only recorded one reception in the NFL.

Detroit can get Marvin Jones and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but the Lions would look a lot better with Hopkins in the mix. He would give Jared Goff a real weapon to stretch defenses, which would ease the all-important running game, led by rookie Jahmyr Gibbs and the addition of free agent David Montgomery.

Before joining FOX Sports as a reporter for the AFC East, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @McKennAnalysis.

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Sara Marcus
Sara Marcushttps://unlistednews.com
Meet Sara Marcus, our newest addition to the Unlisted News team! Sara is a talented author and cultural critic, whose work has appeared in a variety of publications. Sara's writing style is characterized by its incisiveness and thought-provoking nature, and her insightful commentary on music, politics, and social justice is sure to captivate our readers. We are thrilled to have her join our team and look forward to sharing her work with our readers.
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