May 26 2023
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/deandre-hopkins-landing-spots-bills-cowboys-among-best-fits-as-former-cardinals-wr-hits-free-agency/
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2023/5/26/23739363/rams-news-arizona-cardinals-release-deandre-hopkins-nfl-offseason-league

Quote from Hopkins:

"What I want is stable management upstairs,"
Hopkins said. "I think that's something I haven't
really had the past couple years of my career
coming from Houston and then to Arizona. I've
been through 3 or 4 GMs in my career, so a ...

.... stable management. A QB who loves the
game, a QB who brings everybody on board
with him and pushes not just himself but
everybody around him. ... And a great defense.
A great defense wins championships."

One article's idea of the top 7 potential Hop-
kins landing spots:

~~~

Sidenote: The writer of the article failed to take
note of the fact that after Zeke's salary cap im-
pact is reduced by $5,080,000 on June 1, the
Cowboys will have the highest amount of sal-
ary cap space available of all of the 7 teams
listed below, 6th most in the league.

[salary cap space available for each team:
https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space ]

7 Ravens [15th most (after Cowboys moved up
to 6th most on June 1 - see below) salary cap
space]

The Ravens addressed their receiver room this
offseason by signing Odell Beckham Jr. & draft-
ing Boston College wideout Zay Flowers 22nd
overall in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. How-
ever, they have some cap space ($11.8 million
in 2023) & are flush with draft capital.

If Jackson truly wants to make good on his goal
of 6,000 passing yards in 2023, adding Hopkins
is a must. There's even a slight personal connec-
tion: tight ends coach George Godsey was the
Texans' offensive coordinator from 2015-16,
when Hopkins made his Pro Bowl debut with ...

.... a 1,500-yard breakout campaign. If Hopkins
were to agree to a deal, Baltimore could provide
Jackson with one of the better pass-catching
arsenals in the entire league in 2023.

~~~

6 Browns [23rd most (9th lowest) salary cap space]

The Browns aren't exactly loaded with cap space
(projected $7.0M), and they're also short on 2024
NFL Draft ammunition after selling the farm for QB
Deshaun Watson, the quarterback Hopkins became
a superstar with in the 2010s. However, they have
got a clear need for better depth behind Amari ...

.... Cooper, plenty of picks in 2025, and head coach
Kevin Stefanski's leash may not be long for growing
the passing offense with Watson. This signing would
allow the Browns to become much more formidable
competitors in a loaded AFC during a make-or-break
season for the current regime.

~~~

5 Eagles [12th most (after Cowboys moved up
to 6th most on June 1 - see below) salary cap
space]

The defending NFC champions are a natural fit for
Hopkins, as they have arguably the best general
manager in the league [writer's opinion] in Howie
Roseman, his 2nd-favorite quarterback in Jalen
Hurts, & a top-5 defense. Hopkins would be the
most over-qualified WR3 in the league behind A.J. ...

.... Brown & DeVonta Smith, and the Eagles could
provide him everything he's looking for. Roseman
is certainly never afraid at taking big swings if he
thinks it can improve the franchise.

~~~

4 49ers [18th most (after Cowboys moved up
to 6th most on June 1 - see below) salary cap
space]

The San Francisco 49ers don't have the QB profile
Hopkins is looking for in 2nd-year QB Brock Purdy,
3rd-year quarterback Trey Lance, or young journey-
man Sam Darnold. However, they have arguably the
most-loaded offensive ecosystem in the NFL with
Christian McCaffrey at running back, Deebo Samuel ...

.... & Brandon Aiyuk at wide receiver, George Kittle at
tight end, Trent Williams at left tackle, & head coach
Kyle Shanahan calling plays. The 49ers also employ
the NFL's top scoring defense from last season (aver-
aged 16.3 points per game allowed), & it's powered
by 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, ...

.... who led the NFL with 18.5 sacks. With Purdy
healthy, https://www.nfl.com/news/49ers-hc-kyle-shanahan-unclear-on-qb-brock-purdy-return-says-timeline-could-be-s Hopkins
would enjoy plenty of room to roam in San Francisco's
offensive attack.

~~~

3 Jets [24th most (9th lowest) salary cap space]

Aaron Rodgers isn't a young quarterback, but as a
Super Bowl MVP and a four-time NFL MVP, he has
the pedigree Hopkins is looking for in his next pas-
ser. The New York Jets also possess a top-5 de-
fense, and Hopkins wouldn't have to be the No. 1
option with 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year ...

.... Garrett Wilson also on the roster. With Rodgers
turning 40 in December, it's win-now mode for Gang
Green. That's an outlook Hopkins would appreciate.

~~~

2 Cowboys [on June 1 Dallas will have 6th most
salary cap space]

They don't necessarily need another big-money tar-
get with 2022 2nd-team All-Pro CeeDee Lamb head-
lining their group, but there's a reason they traded a
couple late-round picks to the Houston Texans for
Brandin Cooks after flirting with Odell Beckham Jr.
Adding a 3rd proven route-winner like Hopkins to ...

.... Lamb & Cooks would take pressure off of Michael
Gallup as the No. 3, and when doesn't Jerry Jones
enjoy making a splash? The financials would be the
biggest hurdle [wrong, after Zeke's salary cap impact
is reduced on June 1 by $5,080,000, Cowboys will
have $15,630,536 - 6th-most in the league], but with ...

.... many players entering the end of their rookie deals
in the near future, the time is now for Dallas [exagger-
ating as if 2023 is the last year the Cowboys can field
a great team, & they have deals being negotiated for
extending all of the mentioned players].

~~~

1 Bills [30th most (3rd lowest) salary cap space]

The Buffalo Bills are ready to contend for Super Bowls
right now [playoff losses to Chiefs in 2020 & 2021, &
to Bengals in 2022]. They have been one of the NFL's
most dominant teams across the last 3 regular sea-
sons, leading the league in points per game (29.4)
[2nd in 2020, 3rd in 2021, 2nd in 2022] & points ...

.... allowed per game (19.4) [16th in 2020, 1st in 2021,
2nd in 2022] in that span. They could use another re-
ceiver after Stefon Diggs & Gabe Davis since their
current plan is to have rookie tight Dalton Kincaid
act as their slot receiver. The Bills employ Hopkins'
top choice to play with at QB in Josh Allen, too. If ...

.... Hopkins is willing to agree to a smaller deal to fit
under the salary cap, Buffalo makes the most sense.

[People aren't shy about criticizing the Cowboys for fail-
ing to be in a Super Bowl since their 3 Super Bowl wins
& winning 3 of 4 NFC Conference Championships in '92
to '95, but check out the Bills failures after losing 4 con-
secutive Super Bowls 1990-1993, not making it to the
playoffs in 20 of 29 years including 17 straight years...

.... not making it to the playoffs 2000-2016, playoff rec-
ord in the 9 years they made it to the playoffs, 4 wins -
9 losses, overall playoff record of 18 wins - 20 losses.
So yes, they've had high ranked offenses & defenses
the last 3 years, yet they still haven't figured out how
to get back to the place they lost 4-in-a-row at 1990-
1993:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/playoffs.htm ]

--- --- ---

Link to previous post:
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys/c/NQKVzHZrPtI/m/5lwiMLyvAAAJ

Following 2 articles add the Chiefs & Lions as
potential teams for DeAndre Hopkins in addi-
tion to the 7 teams mentioned in the previous
post in this thread:

---
May 27 2023

Chiefs, Bills ‘only teams’ that talked DeAndre
Hopkins trade with Cardinals
https://clutchpoints.com/rumor-chiefs-bills-only-teams-that-talked-deandre-hopkins-trade-with-cardinals
---

---
May 27 2023

two sneaky teams that have the best chance
to sign free agent DeAndre Hopkins—Detroit
Lions & Dallas Cowboys
https://clutchpoints.com/2-sneaky-teams-that-could-sign-deandre-hopkins-after-cardinals-release
---

Sidenote: Chiefs have the 2nd lowest amount
of salary cap space available in the league,
whereas the Lions have the 4th most salary
cap space available, 2 spots higher than the
team that will have the 6th most salary cap
space available on June 1st, the Cowboys.

Reviewing the salary cap space available
as of June 1st for the 9 potential DeAndre
Hopkins teams mentioned thus far in this
thread:

1 - 4th most, Lions
2 - 6th most, Cowboys
3 - 12th most, Eagles
4 - 15th most, Ravens
5 - 18th most (15th lowest), 49ers
6 - 23rd most (10th lowest), Browns
7 - 24th most (9th lowest), Jets
8 - 30th most (3rd lowest), Bills
9 - 31st most (2nd lowest), Chiefs

Sidenote: Reports on salary cap available
differ from website to website, & few web-
sites bother to mention the fact that on
June 1, Zeke's cut reduces the Cowboys
2023 cap hit by $5,080,000. Also, keep in
mind other contracts on every team can ...

.... be adjusted to reduce teams' 2023 sal-
ary cap amounts, so teams with a large
interest in signing Hopkins won't neces-
sarily be out of the running with the June 1
cap amounts displayed in the list above.

Obviously, where there's a will there's a
way if the following odds can be believed
regarding the Chiefs having the 2nd-high-
est odds of signing DeAndre Hopkins. Of
course, for Cowboys fans, happy-happy-
joy-joy if the Cowboys having the best ...

.... chance of signing DeAndre is true &
if DeAndre has enough left in the tank
to play like once did, last time in 2020:
https://www.oddschecker.com/us/insight/football/nfl/20230526-deandre-hopkins-next-team-odds-hopkins-given-33pp-chance-to-sign-with-cowboys

1. Cowboys ......... +200
2. Chiefs .............. +400
3. Patriots ............ +500
4. Bills .................. +600
5. Eagles .............. +700
6. Ravens ............. +800
7. Giants .............. +900
8. Bears ............... +1200
9. Jets ................. +1600

~~~

Downside risk of signing Hopkins based
on an article from Jan 23 2023 when the
Cardinals were deciding whether they
would keep or trade Hopkins; turns out
they decided to cut him:
https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/analysis/pros-cons-arizona-cardinals-trading-deandre-hopkins

.... Hopkins is now 2 seasons removed
from his last 1,000-yard season & has
missed significant time the last 2 years
with injuries & a suspension for PEDs.
It's very likely that Hopkins is simply on
the downward trajectory of his career.

Hopkins turns 31 on June 6th:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HopkDe00.htm

--- --- ---

(corrected re-post to fix grammar error & add
DeAndre's pro bowl/all-pro accomplishments)

Link to previous post:
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys/c/NQKVzHZrPtI/m/5lwiMLyvAAAJ

Following 2 articles add the Chiefs & Lions as
potential teams for DeAndre Hopkins in addi-
tion to the 7 teams mentioned in the previous
post in this thread:

---
May 27 2023

Chiefs, Bills ‘only teams’ that talked DeAndre
Hopkins trade with Cardinals
https://clutchpoints.com/rumor-chiefs-bills-only-teams-that-talked-deandre-hopkins-trade-with-cardinals
---

---
May 27 2023

two sneaky teams that have the best chance
to sign free agent DeAndre Hopkins—Detroit
Lions & Dallas Cowboys
https://clutchpoints.com/2-sneaky-teams-that-could-sign-deandre-hopkins-after-cardinals-release
---

Sidenote: Chiefs have the 2nd lowest amount
of salary cap space available in the league,
whereas the Lions have the 4th most salary
cap space available, 2 spots higher than the
team that will have the 6th most salary cap
space available on June 1st, the Cowboys.

Reviewing the salary cap space available
as of June 1st for the 9 potential DeAndre
Hopkins teams mentioned thus far in this
thread:

1 - 4th most, Lions
2 - 6th most, Cowboys
3 - 12th most, Eagles
4 - 15th most, Ravens
5 - 18th most (15th lowest), 49ers
6 - 23rd most (10th lowest), Browns
7 - 24th most (9th lowest), Jets
8 - 30th most (3rd lowest), Bills
9 - 31st most (2nd lowest), Chiefs

Sidenote: Reports on salary cap available
differ from website to website, & few web-
sites bother to mention the fact that on
June 1, Zeke's cut reduces the Cowboys
2023 cap hit by $5,080,000. Also, keep in
mind other contracts on every team can ...

.... be adjusted to reduce teams' 2023 sal-
ary cap amounts, so teams with a large
interest in signing Hopkins won't neces-
sarily be out of the running with the June 1
cap amounts displayed in the list above.

Obviously, where there's a will there's a
way if the following odds can be believed
regarding the Chiefs having the 2nd-high-
est odds of signing DeAndre Hopkins. Of
course, for Cowboys fans, happy-happy-
joy-joy if the Cowboys having the best ...

.... chance of signing DeAndre is true &
if DeAndre has enough left in the tank
to play like he used to, last really good
year was 2020 (5 pro bowls 3 all-pros):
https://www.oddschecker.com/us/insight/football/nfl/20230526-deandre-hopkins-next-team-odds-hopkins-given-33pp-chance-to-sign-with-cowboys

1. Cowboys ......... +200
2. Chiefs .............. +400
3. Patriots ............ +500
4. Bills .................. +600
5. Eagles .............. +700
6. Ravens ............. +800
7. Giants .............. +900
8. Bears ............... +1200
9. Jets ................. +1600

~~~

Downside risk of signing Hopkins based
on an article from Jan 23 2023 when the
Cardinals were deciding whether they
would keep or trade Hopkins; turns out
they decided to cut him:
https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/analysis/pros-cons-arizona-cardinals-trading-deandre-hopkins

.... Hopkins is now 2 seasons removed
from his last 1,000-yard season & has
missed significant time the last 2 years
with injuries & a suspension for PEDs.
It's very likely that Hopkins is simply on
the downward trajectory of his career.

Hopkins turns 31 on June 6th:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HopkDe00.htm

--- --- ---

Links to 2 previous posts in this thread:
1st post: https://groups.google.com/g/alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys/c/NQKVzHZrPtI/m/5lwiMLyvAAAJ
2nd post: https://groups.google.com/g/alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys/c/NQKVzHZrPtI/m/uY0iZKfkAAAJ

May 30 2023

Anonymous NFL executives express mixed
feelings about how much DeAndre Hopkins
has left in the tank (i.e., if the negative com-
ments are to be believed, & DeAndre is hop-
ing for a $20 million APY, any team doing so
would be taking a huge risk)
https://brobible.com/sports/article/executive-doubt-deandre-hopkins/

Negative Comments: ‘can’t run anymore’,
‘not going to separate’, ‘not much of a deep
threat’, ‘does not love to practice—I can’t
imagine that’ll get any better & when things
don’t go well, you’re always gonna be leery’,
‘when things go south, his true colors show
a little bit’.

Positive Comments: ‘he’s still a good player’,
‘good route runner - big physical target that
can play a ball in the air’, ‘he is still a threat’,
‘exceptional hands & ability to make contested
catches, one of the best in the NFL in that re-
gard’, ‘still great hands’, ‘very strong’, ‘when
things are great he’s great’.
.... NFL executives offer insight into the vary-
ing perceptions of DeAndre Hopkins’ current
abilities & the potential challenges that may
come with signing him.

*---*---*---*