The Arizona Cardinals announced on Friday that they have released DeAndre Hopkins, their wide receiver. The team had been considering Hopkins’ future since the end of the 2022 season due to his team-high $30.75 million cap hit, which was the highest among wide receivers in the NFL and seventh highest overall. The Cardinals will save $8.15 million in cap space in 2023 by releasing Hopkins, but they will take a dead cap hit of $22.6 million. Hopkins was under contract through the 2024 season.
The Trade Speculation and Interest in Hopkins
Hopkins had been the subject of trade speculation for several months, but the Cardinals did not deal him during April’s NFL draft. The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and New England Patriots were among the teams reportedly interested in pursuing him. Despite this, the Cardinals maintained that Hopkins was a Cardinal and that they were moving forward.
Hopkins’ Stats and Missed Games
In his three seasons with the Cardinals, Hopkins had 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 receptions. He caught 64 passes for a team-leading 717 yards and three touchdowns in the 2022 season. However, he missed the first six games of the season due to a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
The Cardinals’ Wide Receiver Corps
The Cardinals’ wide receiver corps will now be led by Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, and Rondale Moore. Brown caught 67 passes for 709 yards in 2022, while Dortch had 52 catches for 467 yards. Moore caught 41 passes for 414 yards.
Overall, Hopkins’ release is a significant loss for the Cardinals, given his status as one of the NFL’s top wide receivers. However, the team will look to move forward with the players they have and find ways to fill the void left by his departure.
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