I saw a few articles suggesting that the Cardinals might trade Deandre Hopkins this offseason. They've only won 4 games this year, might need to cash in and rebuild. Many believe he'd end up in NE after Bill Belichick flirted with him on the sidelines recently, but I'm wondering if he wants to play for a winning team at some point in his career. Others, like the Giants are speculating he could be had for a 2nd RD pick, which means if we were interested it would likely cost us a 2nd + an additional pick.
Hopkins contract salary is for $19.5m & $15m over the next two years, even if you paid JuJu $20m you'd still only be paying $10m more than Tyreek's contract for both. Hopkins missed 6 games, and JuJu has missed 1, but JuJu is only 160 yards ahead of Hopkins, both with 3 TDS and 11 yards per catch, so he hasn't lost a step. Hopkins also plays on the outside, and we could really use a tall outside WR, plus he's a phenomenal deep threat.
I think it'd be really interesting to explore a Deandre Hopkins trade this offseason with all those extra picks, for maybe a 2nd & 5th(?), to hopefully pair him with JuJu. Let Hardman, Watson AND MVS ($8.5m next year & $11.5m the following) walk.
Imagine rolling that Tyreek trade into the greatest passing attack we've ever had, and then blowing THAT offense out of the water the following year!
TE Kelce - Stalwart Goat TE
WR Hopkins - Tall Star Outside Deep Threat
WR JuJu - Big & Tall Slot Star
WR Toney - Fast & Crazy Agile Gadget / Returner
WR Moore - Chain Mover, grows into highly reliable route runner & pass catcher
WR Ross - Surprise Talent, has 2 year to learn from Hopkins
WR Rookie - New Blood [Reply]
3 "go-gets"
- Trade for DeAndre Hopkins OR Trade (less) for Tyler Lockett.
- Sign a FA: Sterling Shepard, DJ Chark, Mack Hollins, Allen Lazard (OR keep MVS)
- Draft a rookie WR
Camp fodder with a chance
- Justyn Ross
Leaves you with:
- Hopkins OR Lockett [Big Money]
- JuJu [Big Money]
- Toney [Rookie Money]
- Shepard OR Chark OR Hollins OR Lazard OR MVS [Mid Money]
- Skyy [Rookie Money]
- Rookie OR Justyn Ross [Rookie Money] [Reply]
3 "go-gets"
- Trade for DeAndre Hopkins OR Trade (less) for Tyler Lockett.
- Sign a FA: Sterling Shepard, DJ Chark, Mack Hollins, Allen Lazard (OR keep MVS)
- Draft a rookie WR
Camp fodder with a chance
- Justyn Ross
Leaves you with:
- Hopkins OR Lockett [Big Money]
- JuJu [Big Money]
- Toney [Rookie Money]
- Shepard OR Chark OR Hollins OR Lazard OR MVS [Mid Money]
- Skyy [Rookie Money]
- Rookie OR Justyn Ross [Rookie Money]
I'm good with any of these scenarios. IMO they are all an upgrade from where we are now. [Reply]
I think we'd have difficulty finding a better discounted contract on talent anywhere in the league outside of a rookie deal. Guy's still a ~top 5 WR, I'd probably rather pay him than JuJu if I had my choice of either on a 2 yr contract. Trading the 2nd hurts, but not so bad if you consider you're likely to get a Mecole Hardman type, and not a Deandre Hopkins, with that pick. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Nightfyre:
Two years of Hopkins for half what Tyreek made? Sign me up.
He probably won’t play for $15M. He probably holds out or asks for a trade for a long term deal? We traded tyreek with one year left on his deal. We could have kept him for one more year and then traded him. Veach doesn’t normally sign older players unless they are cheap on one year deals. I’m not saying it’s a terrible idea at all. It’s a great idea but the assumptions for how this would work are faulty. Dhop wants a new deal if traded. [Reply]
Originally Posted by kcbubb:
He probably won’t play for $15M. He probably holds out or asks for a trade for a long term deal? We traded tyreek with one year left on his deal. We could have kept him for one more year and then traded him. Veach doesn’t normally sign older players unless they are cheap on one year deals. I’m not saying it’s a terrible idea at all. It’s a great idea but the assumptions for how this would work are faulty. Dhop wants a new deal if traded.
Agreed, but can he expect that after missing 6 games this season? Or would he have to play for a year on his $19.5m 2023 contract before he could expect an extension? [Reply]
I'd love Hop here - he'd be lethal opposite Kelce with his route running ability, hands, and ability to catch contested passes. But with our needs elsewhere, his return on investment when you consider the state of our o-tackles and defensive line, especially considering how we have the top offense right now without him or Tyreek or studs at left or right tackles, it just doesn't make sense.
We need to throw our resources at the non-sexy positions this offseason (defensive end not being non-sexy), and I figure it's going to bring some frustration because players like D-Hop would be amazing playing with Mahomes. [Reply]