The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl without a star wide receiver, but they could reportedly make an elite offense even scarier by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins.
NFL insider Benjamin Albright told PHNX Cardinals that Kansas City is the "primary suitor" for Hopkins. He doesn't know the draft compensation the Cardinals would receive, but he said it's more likely they get a second-round pick than a first.
After the 2022 season, theScore's Jordan Schultz reported that the Cardinals plan to trade Hopkins this offseason.
Arizona hired a new general manager and head coach after a disappointing four-win season, and Hopkins is set to make $19.45 million (with a $30.75 million cap hit) in 2023. The Cardinals could seek a clean slate by moving the three-time All-Pro wideout, who turns 31 in June.
Hopkins began his Cardinals career by tallying 1,407 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. However, multiple lower body injuries limited him to 10 games in 2021, and he served a six-game suspension to start the 2022 season for violating the NFL's PED policy.
Yet he remains an impact player when on the field. Hopkins totaled 474 receiving yards in six full games with quarterback Kyler Murray last season.
Now imagine what he can accomplish when catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs flourished without a star replacement for Tyreek Hill, but they could still benefit by solidifying the position this offseason. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a free agent after garnering 78 catches for 933 yards on a one-year deal. The depth chart features several talented question marks in Mecole Hardman, Kadarius Toney, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Adding Hopkins could be great news for Kansas City, but terrible for all opposing defenses.
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Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!:
What kind of contract would you give D Hop? I’d do 3/55
Nope.
He's due, what, $20 million this year on his present deal? So let's say that's restructured into some sort of bonus whereby $8 million of it is absorbed by Arizona and we take $12 million of it. I'd be willing to add 2/$32 on top of that with say $14 million in year 1 and $18 million in year 2.
So the 'new' contract becomes 3 years, $44 million with years 1 and 2 being guaranteed at $26 million total and year 3 being something of an option year.
This is still a 31 yr old WR who's yards/target fell pretty hard last season despite his catch% remaining stable, so it tells you he simply lost explosion last season. I'm not giving nearly $20 million/season for a guy's 31-33 seasons.
At 30 years old Julio Jones, who was simply better than Hopkins in every meaningful way, was still one of the best WRs in football. At 32 he was a journeyman. The wall is real and the threat of it should not be ignored. [Reply]
He's due, what, $20 million this year on his present deal? So let's say that's restructured into some sort of bonus whereby $8 million of it is absorbed by Arizona and we take $12 million of it. I'd be willing to add 2/$32 on top of that with say $14 million in year 1 and $18 million in year 2.
So the 'new' contract becomes 3 years, $44 million with years 1 and 2 being guaranteed at $26 million total and year 3 being something of an option year.
This is still a 31 yr old WR who's yards/target fell pretty hard last season despite his catch% remaining stable, so it tells you he simply lost explosion last season. I'm not giving nearly $20 million/season for a guy's 31-33 seasons.
At 30 years old Julio Jones, who was simply better than Hopkins in every meaningful way, was still one of the best WRs in football. At 32 he was a journeyman. The wall is real and the threat of it should not be ignored.
As the status of #AZCardinals star WR DeAndre Hopkins comes into focus, talks are ramping up among the interested teams, sources say. Similar to Brandin Cooks, a trade would likely mean an altered contract.
Originally Posted by BleedingRed:
We don't pay his guaranteed money,
Technically speaking we would, in a trade. That's the benefit to trading for guys who have a great deal of their cap figure in pro-rated bonus vs. guaranteed salary. The entire salary follows the player whereas with bonus money it just accelerates onto the trading teams cap.
But practically speaking, as the Cardinals are willing to restructure his deal and presumably convert part of that guaranteed salary into bonus, they'd absorb that bonus money.
And how much of that money they're willing to absorb will likely control their return. Because the more of it they will absorb, the more flexibility we'll have in structuring a LTC. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Technically speaking we would, in a trade. That's the benefit to trading for guys who have a great deal of their cap figure in pro-rated bonus vs. guaranteed salary. The entire salary follows the player whereas with bonus money it just accelerates onto the trading teams cap.
But practically speaking, as the Cardinals are willing to restructure his deal and presumably convert part of that guaranteed salary into bonus, they'd absorb that bonus money.
And how much of that money they're willing to absorb will likely control their return. Because the more of it they will absorb, the more flexibility we'll have in structuring a LTC.
I think that's where we might be getting into the 2nd round pick range. If they take on a big portion of his money, then I could see them getting that high of pick. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Even if you trade for Hopkins, I still think you find a rookie WR that can be your deep threat. You won't need him a ton this year because you have MVS for that role but you can get out of his contract next year. You'd have Hopkins and Kelce as your top 2. Toney would be your kind of "do everything", Moore would be your slot and the rookie would be your deep threat.
Find a WR that can run go routes and adjust to the ball.
My sleeper a few years ago was Darnell Mooney who went in the 5th.
If we could find a similar bargain we could move off MVS next year and save $$$. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
I think that's where we might be getting into the 2nd round pick range. If they take on a big portion of his money, then I could see them getting that high of pick.
Right. I had them taking on roughly 40% of it in my "we'll give them a 2" hypothetical.
I think the Texans took on, what, 33% of Cooks? And the Cowboys bonused out a big chunk of the remainder to get his year 1 number down to $4 million.
That's kinda the scenario we'd need to see unfold. [Reply]
Bro - that's a LB who's gobbling up green there; Murray gained about 5 yards on him over 12.
Hopkins is definitely better than JuJu. Likely healthier even with the age difference as well. But I'd tap the brakes a bit on 'turbo' - Hopkins has pretty average NFL speed these days. [Reply]