The worst-kept secret this offseason was Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins slated to be off the team and playing elsewhere in 2023.
On Friday, the Cardinals finally did the deed and released Hopkins as a pre-June 1 designation, meaning they'll take the entire $22.6 million cap hit.
This is not a post-June 1 designation. Arizona takes the entire $22.6M dead cap hit this season. https://t.co/8Qdxy9127K
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 26, 2023
Now, Hopkins is free to sign wherever.
Appearing recently on the "IAmAthlete" podcast, Hopkins mentioned that he'd like to play with these five quarterbacks:
- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
- Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
- Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)
Which QB do you want to see DeAndre Hopkins play with? ?
1. Josh Allen
2. Jalen Hurts
3. Patrick Mahomes
4. Lamar Jackson
5. Justin Herbert?: @IAMATHLETEpod pic.twitter.com/S7IiI00sq8
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) May 26, 2023
There are odds for Hopkins' next team at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Bills: +250
- Chiefs: +400
- New York Jets: +550
- Ravens: +650
- New England Patriots: +800
Where will Hopkins, a 31-year-old wide receiver with 64 catches in nine games in 2022, play next year?
Buffalo Bills
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
RELATED: Damar Hamlin 'Fully Cleared' to Return to Football Three Months After On-Field Collapse
The Hopkins-to-Buffalo link has been what most have expected to happen all offseason.
The Bills need a No. 2 option to go alongside Stefon Diggs. Gabe Davis was slotted there last year, and while he was OK, he'd serve much better as a No. 3 to Hopkins and Diggs.
Hopkins is friends with Von Miller. Miller has appeared multiple times on The Pat McAfee Show talking about Hopkins. Plus Pacman Jones, a regular on the show lately, has also mentioned Buffalo as the hot spot for the All-Pro receiver.
Source(s) have some DHop information..
"There's five teams in on DHop and my source(s) tell me that Buffalo could work"@REALPACMAN24 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/f8iV6lbV29
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 23, 2023
"To me it really felt like DeAndre Hopkins was talking about the Buffalo Bills" ??@VonMiller #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ZCSwtYS9Vo
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 23, 2023
The Bills are leading in odds, and they should be. Hopkins' first answer in his list of quarterbacks was Allen and the Bills, and at this point in his career, he wants to win, as evidenced by his "liked" tweet history.
DeAndre Hopkins liking this tweet of a clip from the Pat Mcafee Show where JJ Watt says he thinks Nuk just wants to go somewhere he thinks he can win and that his relationship with O?Brien wouldn?t stop him from coming to New England is?. Very, very interesting. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/GhjcJHGhCC
— Kayshon Boutte Truther (@Patriots_Andrew) March 17, 2023
When Hopkins was on The Pat McAfee Show, he mentioned he didn't want to "take the short end of the stick." He hired an agent to "get the results that we want."
DeAndre Hopkins on the Pat McAfee show from March 8th when Pac-Man Jones asked him about making sure he doesn?t get the short end of the stick. pic.twitter.com/agc1f9PoNR
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) March 21, 2023
According to Over The Cap, the Bills have just $1.5 million in cap space, but that won't be an issue if it means getting Hopkins on the team.
Mark my words—Hopkins will play for the Bills in 2023.
