The Arizona Cardinals haven’t been shy concerning the availability of vast receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the reason that finish of the season.
The Clemson alum had a powerful first 12 months in Arizona (115 receptions, 1,407 yards, six touchdowns) however accidents and a suspension have rubbed the shine off this penny. The Cardinals have a brand new normal supervisor (Monti Ossenfort), a brand new head coach (Jonathan Gannon) and a clear break may be finest for all concerned.
If Arizona does make a transfer to commerce the 30-year-old receiver, listed here are three potential locations which could make sense for the wideout:
Baltimore Ravens
Other than re-signing quarterback Lamar Jackson, rebuilding the vast receivers room seems to be the highest precedence for Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and rightfully so.
Baltimore posted the third-fewest receiving yards (3,202) and fifth-fewest receptions (300) within the NFL this previous season. Former first-round decide Rashod Bateman was restricted to simply seven video games performed whereas Demarcus Robinson (48 receptions, 458 yards, two touchdowns), Devin Duvernay (37 receptions, 407 yards, three touchdowns) and James Proche (eight receptions, 62 yards) all left a lot to be desired.
If Jackson does return because the Ravens’ beginning quarterback for 2023-24, handing him a weapon like Hopkins, who has logged six 1,000-yard seasons within the final 9 years and posted 100 or extra receptions 4 instances, could be a pleasant welcome-back present. Buying and selling for Hopkins and doubtlessly drafting one in all Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison or Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the twenty second general decide would add some much-needed legitimacy to the Ravens passing assault.
Carolina Panthers
Solely two groups (Atlanta and Chicago) had worse manufacturing from their vast receivers than the Panthers did in 2022-23. Carolina’s wideouts logged a mixed 153 receptions, 2,152 yards and 12 touchdowns, with almost half of that manufacturing coming from D.J. Moore and Robbie Anderson — gamers now not on roster. Carolina merely can not head into the approaching season with a depth chart headed by Terrace Marshall Jr., Shi Smith and Laviska Shenault.
New head coach Frank Reich proved in Indianapolis {that a} top-tier receiver can have success in his system (see Michael Pittman) and Hopkins is a official No. 1 receiver who might present a pleasant safety web for whichever quarterback the Panthers presumably draft first general in April.
Arizona is reportedly looking for a second-round decide in return for Hopkins. After buying and selling with the Bears to maneuver as much as No. 1 general, the Panthers nonetheless have a second-round decide, thirty ninth general. An argument could be made that Hopkins is best than any receiver Carolina might take with that decide.Â
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New England Patriots
Per oddschecker, the Patriots are tied for the second-best odds (+450) of touchdown Hopkins. And whereas New England offset the lack of Jakobi Meyers with the signing of Juju Smith-Schuster in free company, at this stage of his profession, Smith-Schuster is extra of a No. 2 receiver than a bona fide No. 1.
Discounting Meyers — who’s now not on the staff, anyway — there was not a Patriots receiver registered greater than 35 receptions or 539 yards final season. By bringing Invoice O’Brien again as offensive coordinator and rebuffing commerce gives for quarterback Mac Jones, the Patriots seem like all-in on the previous No. 15 general decide.
With the addition of a receiver of Hopkins’ caliber to pair with Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne, plus newly-signed tight ends Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry, the Pats could be setting Jones up for achievement within the fall.