Jets To Pursue Post-Draft Extension For RB Breece Hall
After four years of up-and-down play, the Jets came into the final year of running back Breece Hall‘s rookie contract unsure of whether or not they wanted to extend him to a long-term contract. When, after the season, they tried and failed to reach an extension agreement in time for free agency, New York opted for the franchise tag. According to Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York, the team is expected to restart its extension efforts after the draft. 
As a second-round rookie out of Iowa State, Hall looked electric in his limited first year. He started the season coming off the bench for secondary carries behind Michael Carter but took over a dominant share of the workload by Week 4 and was named a starter by Week 6. Unfortunately, Hall tore his ACL and meniscus early into his second career start, ending his rookie campaign.
Recovering in time to return to a starting role in Year 2, Hall had a strong bounce back season. While he had a tendency to disappear in some contests, he had a few stellar games en route to 994 yards and five touchdowns rushing and 591 yards and four touchdowns receiving. His third season with the team saw fewer disappearances for the young back but also featured fewer big performances with Hall logging just one 100-yard game all season. He also struggled with fumbles more than in prior years, losing the rock six times.
In the following offseason the Jets had no plans of extending him before his final year, but they also weren’t eager to try and trade their leading rusher, either, despite the interest he seemed to draw around the midseason trade deadline. Both Hall and his coaches made clear their desires to avoid a trade, and the front office seemed to follow suit by setting a high asking price for the fourth-year back, indicating that a long-term deal may have entered their plans. Once the team traded away two defensive cornerstones, Hall’s tune reportedly changed a bit, but he never requested a trade.
Realizing that Hall would garner a strong free agent market, based on the trade interest he received and his first 1,000-yard rushing season, the Jets set their sights on retaining the 24-year-old rusher. As the offseason came and progressed, though, the team and player found themselves far apart on contract terms, so the franchise tag came into play. The tag allowed New York to put Hall’s extension on the backburner, while free agency became the priority, and now the draft will be a main focus of the front office for weeks to come.
Per Hughes, though, there was a period just before the Jets moved to place the franchise tag during which they were “pretty confident” that a deal was going to get done. With the possibility of an agreement within their reach, New York intends to shift its focus back to Hall once the draft is in the rearview. Hughes adds that the front office has taken not of the three-year, $43.05MM deal Kenneth Walker just signed in Kansas City, and believing that Hall is a better back, they intend to extend him a bigger offer.
It’s unclear where their offer started and where Hall’s asking price was, but perhaps a bump to Walker’s numbers will get the two sides closer together. We won’t know that, though, likely until after the draft, when time allows for negotiations to continue.
Georgia LT Monroe Freeling Generating Considerable Buzz; Browns A Possible Landing Spot, Could Trade Down
Since left tackle is a premium position, the top collegiate LTs in a given class frequently hear their names called in the first hour of the NFL draft. This year should be no different, and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano have long been viewed as possible top-10 selections in April’s event.
But as the aptly-named Austin Mock of The Athletic (subscription required) details, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling has forced his way into the conversation. Per Mock, Freeling was a standout in February’s scouting combine, whereas Fano’s measurements were somewhat disappointing. Plus, Mauigoa and Fano have been unable to separate from each other, giving Freeling a legitimate chance to be the first offensive tackle off the board.
Freeling worked as a backup during his first season in Athens in 2023, and he was only inserted into the starting lineup as an injury replacement towards the end of the 2024 slate. However, he was anointed the starting left tackle heading into 2025, and he made the most of his opportunity, securing Second Team All-SEC honors and helping the Bulldogs to an SEC championship and a place in the CFP quarterfinals.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein believes Freeling has ideal length and athleticism for a right tackle, though it presently appears as if teams think he will be able to stick on the left side at the professional level. His limited action as a full-time starter suggests he will have some technical issues to address, but his quickness, athletic upside, and the fact that he showed considerable improvement as the 2025 season went on are all reasons to believe he can reach his high ceiling.
The Browns profile as an obvious landing spot. In a recent mock draft published by The Athletic (subscription required), Browns beat Zac Jackson acknowledged the buzz growing around Freeling and opined that Cleveland will select the 6-7, 315-lb blocker with the No. 6 overall pick (Mauigoa was mocked to the Cardinals at No. 3, and Fano was mocked to the Dolphins at No. 11).
Since they employ both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns’ quarterback situation consistently generates a great deal of attention. Regardless of whom Cleveland taps as its QB in 2026 and beyond, the team will need to improve that player’s protection, particularly on the blind side. A true franchise left tackle is not a guarantee for future success (see: Joe Thomas), but it is nonetheless a critical part of a quality roster.
In Jackson’s view, Freeling’s athletic traits are similar to those that GM Andrew Berry has sought out in prior drafts. That said, Jackson indicates Berry – who also holds the No. 24 overall pick from last year’s draft-day trade with the Jaguars – is open to trading down from No. 6.
Although the Browns boasted a strong defense in 2025, they were unable to get their offense on track and posted a disappointing 5-12 record. Berry has a lot of work to do to return Cleveland to playoff contention, and while his quarterback plan will of course be instrumental in achieving that goal, it also makes sense for him to add as much cost-controlled talent to the club as possible.
The Browns also have been heavily linked to this year’s best WR prospects. In a trade-down scenario, the team could acquire additional draft capital while still landing a tackle like Freeling or Fano as well as a receiver like Jordyn Tyson or Denzel Boston.
Seahawks Likely To Extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon This Offseason
To no surprise, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon each had their fifth-year options exercised by the Seahawks recently. That ensures both stalwarts will remain in place through 2027. 
Seattle is able to work out an extension in each case this offseason, however. Working out an agreement for Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon at some point before the start of the 2026 campaign would fall in line with previous Seahawks timelines. Per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, an agreement on both fronts can be expected this spring or summer.
Smith-Njigba will collect $23.85MM in 2027, while Witherspoon is due $21.16MM for that year. Both multi-time Pro Bowlers are no doubt in line to secure more lucrative paydays when their second contracts are finalized. As Dugar notes, extensions at or near the top of the receiver and cornerback markets are likely forthcoming. Smith-Njigba secured Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro honors for 2025, a season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards and set new career highs in several categories.
The 24-year-old has seen his receiving totals, yards per catch average and touchdown figures increase with each passing year in the NFL. That, coupled with Smith-Njigba’s durability – no missed games to date – makes him a strong candidate to challenge the top of the WR market. Ja’Marr Chase is attached to a deal averaging $40.24MM per year. His 2025 Bengals extension contained $73.9MM in full guarantees, a figure surpassed only by Justin Jefferson ($88.74MM) at the position. With the salary cap surpassing $300MM, Smith-Njigba will aim to match or outpace Chase and Jefferson’s pacts during negotiations.
Witherspoon, 25, already has three Pro Bowl invites on his resume. The Illinois product was a second-team All-Pro in 2025, and he was a key part of Seattle’s elite defense which carried the team to a Super Bowl title. Expectations will remain high in his case for years to come, and after seeing multiple free agent departures in the secondary the Seahawks could ensure stability with a long-term agreement. Witherspoon is likely to join the nine cornerbacks whose contracts average $20.1MM or more per year. Draft classmate Christian Gonzalez is eligible for a Patriots extension, and he could be a comparable figure in Witherspoon’s case.
Dugar writes nothing is imminent at this point with respect to a Smith-Njigba or Witherspoon extension. That could very well remain the case until after the draft at a minimum. As training camp and the 2026 season approach, though, it will be interesting to see if contract talks pick up.
Jets Meet With Miami QB Carson Beck, Will Attend Pro Day
As the Jets move on from Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor and still see dead money in 2026 for Fields and Aaron Rodgers, the team is looking to the draft to help improve their quarterbacks room for cheap. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets general manager Darren Mougey met with Miami (FL) quarterback Carson Beck tonight and will attend the Hurricanes Pro Day in Coral Gables tomorrow. 
In a trade with the Raiders, New York recently reunited with Geno Smith, who should serve as a bridge option at quarterback. Since New York isn’t in a position to draft the only perceived difference maker at the position this year, it appears the team will look to take a flyer on a mid-round passer in the hopes they can strike gold on a young quarterback without dedicating a first-round pick in doing so.
Some have tied the team to the prospect widely seen as the consensus QB2 of the draft, Alabama’s Ty Simpson. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. even mocked the two together, a move Cimini was not a fan of. In support of his opinion, Cimini cited the litany of quarterbacks drafted high after fewer than 17 starts at the collegiate level. Aside from former MVP Cam Newton, the stories of small-sample passers like Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Anthony Richardson, Mitchell Trubisky, Blaine Gabbert, and Dwayne Haskins have all been tales of caution.
Cimini isn’t alone in his cautious outlook. There were several evaluators who wanted to see Simpson go back to school, especially after injury affected his play in the last half of the 2025 season. The same was said of Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who did decide to return to school and stands a better chance at becoming the top pick in the draft because of it.
Using that logic, it makes sense to see New York researching the group of arms just below Simpson. Instead of dedicating their 16th overall pick on Simpson, they could use a third- or fourth-round pick to take a cheaper chance at developing a young passer. The Jets hosted Penn State’s Drew Allar recently and followed up with Beck today. Beck and Allar have been grouped with LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier as the next level of prospects available at the position after Fernando Mendoza and Simpson.
Beck, unlike Simpson, has plenty of experience at the collegiate level. A backup for his first three years of school, Beck watched Stetson Bennett win back-to-back championships at Georgia before taking over as a starter himself. Unable to take the Bulldogs back to the title game in two years as the starter, Beck transferred to Miami and led the Hurricanes to their first title game appearance in 23 years. He ended his college career with a starting record of 37-6, throwing 88 touchdowns (and rushing for seven) and 32 interceptions.
Mougey and Co. will watch Beck and several other Hurricanes projected to hear their names called next month — offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and pass rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor have all been projected as first-rounders — before continuing on to Ohio State on Wednesday, where a number of defenders — linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs — have been rumored options for the Jets at No. 2 overall.
NFC North Contract Details: Pierre, Jackson, Lewis, Brooks, Jones
Here are reported details from recently signed contracts across the NFC North:
- James Pierre, CB (Vikings): Two years, $8.5MM. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Pierre’s previously reported guaranteed amount of $3.72MM is made up of his signing bonus ($2.5MM) and his 2026 base salary ($1.22MM). Also, originally reported to have a maximum value of $8.5MM, that amount is actually the base. Pierre has the ability to add up to $510K per season with a $30K per game active roster bonus.
- D’Marco Jackson, LB (Bears): Two years, $7.5MM. Per OvertheCap.com, Jackson’s new contract includes $3.63MM in guaranteed money comprised of a $1.88MM signing bonus and his base salary for the 2026 season ($1.75MM). His deal’s per game active roster bonus pays out only half of what Pierre’s does, but Jackson will be able to earn a 2027 roster bonus of $425K, if he’s still on the team by the fifth day of the new league year in 2027. The rest of the potential maximum value of the contract will be available in $1.5MM of incentives.
- Cam Lewis, CB (Bears): Two years, $6MM. Per Wilson, Lewis’ compensation could reach up to $7MM and includes $2.75MM in guaranteed money with a $1.5MM signing bonus and $1.25MM base salary in 2026. Lewis’ per game active roster bonus starts out at $10K in 2026 ($170K full season) and elevates to $20K in Year 2 ($340K full season). On the same timing as Jackson, Lewis would get a 2027 roster bonus of $250K. The $1MM of incentives Lewis can make are based on playing time and playoff qualification and include escalators for his potential second year.
- Chris Brooks, RB (Packers): Two years, $4.85MM. Wilson reports that Brooks’ deal to return to Green Bay includes a $650K signing bonus (the only guaranteed money). His base salary starts at $1.25MM and elevates to $1.41MM in Year 2, and he’ll be able to add $170K in each season with a $10K per game active roster bonus.
- Braxton Jones, LT (Bears): One year, $5MM. Originally reported at its maximum $10MM value, the base value of Jones deal is half that. Per OvertheCap.com, the contract includes $3MM in guaranteed money consisting of a $1.5MM signing bonus and $1.5MM of Jones’ 2026 base salary ($2MM). His per game active roster bonus is double that of Pierre’s, meaning it can net him an additional $1.02MM for a full season. The remaining potential value will have to be earned through incentives.
Ravens’ Biggest Needs After Free Agent Losses
While widely accused of wrongdoing in the fallout of the Maxx Crosby trade debacle, the Ravens themselves were hurt by a delayed start to free agency. Expecting Crosby to be on their books for much of the legal tampering period, the Ravens negotiated through that time with the diminished cap in mind and watched several impact players walk away as a result. Following the polarizing reversal, Baltimore has some work to do in rebuilding its roster. 
They biggest loss was that of center Tyler Linderbaum. A 2022 first-round pick, Linderbaum had his fifth-year option declined due to the fact that the formula that calculates the value of fifth-year options groups all offensive linemen together, meaning Linderbaum would be receiving the five-year average of the third- to 20th-highest paid offensive linemen (mostly tackles) in the NFL. Because he made two or more Pro Bowls, the Ravens would’ve had to pay Linderbaum $23.4MM for the single year and, given the leader of the market at the time they opted not to exercise his option was making $18MM per year, their choice seemed justified. Little did they know Linderbaum intended to reset the market, and with the Raiders now paying him an average of $27MM for each of the next three years, that option looks like a discount in hindsight.
With Linderbaum gone, the team’s cupboard is pretty bare of centers. Currently, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, their starting center for next year is not on the roster. If the season started today, recent free agent addition Danny Pinter would be the team’s answer at the position. A fifth-round pick out of Ball State six years ago, Pinter has spent his entire career so far as a depth piece on the Colts’ offensive line. Over the years, he’s appeared in 77 games with Indianapolis but only started 10, getting experience at center, right guard, and left tackle. Pinter’s only competition at the moment appears to be Corey Bullock, an undrafted signee two years ago out of Maryland who has played almost exclusively on special teams.
The Ravens also reportedly still feel the need to add to their pass rush. After reversing the trade for Crosby, the Ravens were able to secure the top edge rusher on the free agent market in Trey Hendrickson, but the team still is looking to add another veteran contributor. Mike Green showed promise as a second-round rookie but still has room to grow, and an expected breakout season for Tavius Robinson was hampered due to injury. It’s believed Baltimore may go after another experienced veteran. Currently the top options at the position are Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd, and Cameron Jordan, but the Ravens could opt to reunite with Jadeveon Clowney or re-sign Kyle Van Noy after his disappointing 2025 campaign.
The Ravens will also really be in trouble if star pass-rushing defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike remains out long term. The 28-year-old defender missed 15 games with a neck injury last year, and there seems to be fear regarding whether or not he’ll ever play again. Mum’s been the word ever since he was placed on injured reserve following his Week 2 injury. The only hints have been a few social media posts indicating “good news” followed by a meeting with the team. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, the team addressed the situation at the combine.
“You keep the players’ health and long-term longevity at the forefront of anything, and so, that’s what we’ll do,” new head coach Jesse Minter told the media. “We will have multiple plans in place, but (I’m) just excited for him. He’s in a great frame of mind right now. He’s excited, so (I’m) just excited to see how it all shakes out.”
The Ravens were able to secure some defensive linemen for next year with new agreements with Travis Jones and John Jenkins, but if Madubuike isn’t returning, they’ll need to invest in the position as some point soon. Many in the building saw the loss of Madubuike last year as the main cause of their defensive struggles, so they’ll be hoping for positive news, whenever that may be expected.
5 Key Stories: 3/15/26 – 3/22/26
With the initial wave of free agency in the books, things have slowed down to a large extent around the NFL. Teams remain busy on the roster-building front with plenty of time remaining before the draft, however. Here is a quick recap of this week’s top stories:
- Dolphins Send Waddle To Broncos: In the initial wake of the Dolphins‘ decision to move on from several veterans as part of their rebuild, it appeared as though Jaylen Waddle would remain in place. Instead, a trade agreement was reached with the Broncos. The veteran wideout was exchanged for Denver’s first- and third-round selections in this year’s draft, with 2026 fourth-rounders also changing hands. Waddle will offer a welcomed boost to the Broncos’ receiving corps as they seek increased efficiency and production in the passing game. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2028, so his arrival will overlap with quarterback Bo Nix‘s rookie deal. Having already released Tyreek Hill, meanwhile, Miami’s WR depth chart could use plenty of work during the remainder of the offseason.
- Chiefs Acquire Fields From Jets: Since his midseason benching, Justin Fields was expected to see his Jets tenure come to an end. That proved to be the case when a trade was worked out with the Chiefs. Fields and a seventh-round pick in April’s draft were dealt from New York to Kansas City for a 2027 sixth-rounder. Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from the ACL tear which ended his season late in the 2025 campaign, and his Week 1 availability is in question. This move will give the Chiefs an experienced fill-in starter early in the year, and it will provide Fields with a period leading up to the fall where he handles first-team reps. The former first-rounder has largely struggled through his time in Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York. A brief stint atop the depth chart on his latest team will likely now await.
- Tretter Lands Top NFLPA Job: Months after resigning from the NFL Players Association, J.C. Tretter has returned to lead the organization. The NFLPA’s vote for a new executive director resulted in Tretter winning the full-time position over interim leader David White and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti. Tretter and White were considered the contenders leading up to the vote, one which marks a key development for the union as it pertains to pending CBA negotiations. Tretter will aim to rebuild his stock and that of the NFLPA in general upon taking over. Meanwhile, free agent linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin will continue as the union’s president.
- Seahawks Exercise Smith-Njigba, Witherspoon’s Options: First-round picks from the 2023 draft class are subject to fifth-year option decisions this spring. To no surprise, the Seahawks have picked up the option for both of wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The move ensures the Pro Bowlers will remain in place through at least 2027. Smith-Njigba earned Offensive Player of the Year honors this past season while leading the league in receiving yards. Witherspoon received a second-team All-Pro nod thanks to another high-end campaign as part of Seattle’s elite secondary. The Super Bowl champions can extend both players at any time this offseason. New deals in each case being finalized sometime between the draft and training camp in particular would come as little surprise.
- Wentz Reunites With Vikings: The Vikings made one quarterback splash early in free agency by lining up a one-year deal with Kyler Murray. They were not done adding veteran passers, however, with Carson Wentz returning to Minnesota. In 2025, Wentz made five starts in place of an injured J.J. McCarthy before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. McCarthy is still in the fold, but the former first-round pick’s Vikings outlook is the subject of considerable speculation. Murray is expected to operate as the team’s starter for 2026, and Wentz will give head coach Kevin O’Connell another veteran option to turn to. It will be interesting to see how McCarthy’s development will be handled this summer coming of a rookie season missed through injury and a 2025 campaign marred by struggles when on the field.
Jets Host QB Drew Allar
The Jets have their 2026 starting quarterback in the form of Geno Smith. His return to New York came about via trade, the same route taken to move on from Justin Fields. 
Another veteran could be added this offseason. Tyrod Taylor remains unsigned at this time, and most free agents have lined up a new arrangement by this point in the new league year. That could leave the Jets to focus on the upcoming draft with respect to a depth QB addition.
Like all teams, New York is in the early stages of hosting prospects on top 30 visits. Several Penn State players visited the Jets recently, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. Among them was quarterback Drew Allar. That will no doubt prove to be one of many private workouts Allar participates in during the build-up to the draft.
An October ankle injury brought an abrupt end to Allar’s senior season. His performances up to that point had left plenty to be desired, something which wound up being true in 2025 of many signal-callers. Allar totaled 49 touchdowns and 10 interceptions across the 2023 and ’24 seasons, leading to high expectations for this past campaign. Before the injury, he posted a completion percentage of 64.8% along with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 8:3.
The Jets own two first-round picks in this year’s draft. New York will not be able to select Fernando Mendoza provided the Raiders take the expected route of drafting the Heisman winner first overall. Whether or not another quarterback is taken on Day 1 remains a question at this point, although Ty Simpson and Cole Payton are considered the top QB2 candidates. Allar, like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Miami’s Carson Beck, will enter the NFL with plenty of experience but a tempered outlook with respect to his ceiling at the pro level.
New York also has a pair of second-round selections in 2026 along with five Day 3 picks. Using one of those on a developmental option would come as no surprise. Based on how the team’s evaluation process plays out over the coming weeks, Allar could be among the quarterback prospects receiving consideration.
Commanders Will Not Explore New Contract For DT Daron Payne Until After Season
At the end of February, Commanders GM Adam Peters expressed high hopes for defensive tackle Daron Payne in 2026, the last year of his current deal (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington). Those remarks suggested Washington would not seek to move on from Payne despite his $27.95MM cap charge, though Peters also said the team would not explore a new contract for Payne until after the ’26 season.
Payne’s cap number – which also could have been reduced with an extension – has not prevented the Commanders from being very busy in free agency. The club has been especially active along the defensive front, adding Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Tim Settle, and Charles Omenihu and re-signing Deatrich Wise, Shy Tuttle, and Drake Jackson.
Of that group, only Oweh and Settle landed multiyear accords, so if Payne performs well in 2026, there should be no financial obstacle to a re-up. It does make sense for the team to wait and see if Payne’s platform campaign can yield an uptick in performance, as the soon-to-be 29-year-old has been unable to approach the career-best 11.5 sacks he posted in 2022 (his lone Pro Bowl season), and he has never drawn particularly strong grades from Pro Football Focus.
On the other hand, the Commanders are reportedly more bullish on Payne’s performance than PFF, and his presence, combined with the new additions, could make the club’s D-line a real strength in the upcoming season. Even after his FA expenditures, there has been no public indication that Peters has changed his mind on allowing Payne to play out the last year of the contract designed by the Ron Rivera/Martin Mayhew regime.
We also have a few notes to pass along on some of the above-referenced deals:
- K’Lavon Chaisson, DE. Originally reported as a one-year, $12MM deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports Chaisson can earn $11MM on his pact. Of that figure, $10.3MM ($7MM signing bonus, $3.3MM base salary) is fully guaranteed.
- Charles Omenihu, DE. One year, $4MM. $7MM max value. The deal includes $3.3MM in full guarantees, including $2.3MM in base salary and a $1MM signing bonus, per Wilson. Omenihu can earn $30K per game in active roster bonuses and $190K in workout bonuses.
- Tim Settle, DT. Reported as a three-year, $24MM deal with a max value of $25.5MM. The exact base figure, as Wilson reports, is $23.49MM. That includes $7.3MM in full guarantees, which is mostly comprised of a $6MM signing bonus. Settle also secured $4.7MM in injury guarantees and is due to earn salaries of $1.3MM, $7.1MM, and $6.2MM over the life of the contract.
- Deatrich Wise, DE. One year. The deal is worth $1.45MM and includes a $1.3MM salary and $75K signing bonus, according to Wilson. Wise will carry a $1.45MM cap charge.
WR DeAndre Hopkins Would Welcome Vikings Deal
The first wave of free agency brought no reported interest in three-time First Team All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins. But if the Vikings come calling, Hopkins will listen, as the player himself recently told TMZ Sports.
Minnesota recently added both Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz to its quarterback room, and it is fair to expect Murray to win the QB1 battle over Wentz and incumbent J.J. McCarthy. Of course, Murray and Hopkins were teammates with the Cardinals from 2020-22, and it sounds as if that relationship is a good one.
“Kyler … that’s my bro, man. Kyler is like family,” Hopkins said. “Whatever I can do for someone like that — if Kyler needed me, if the Vikings need me, they know I’ll be there.”
Murray was only available to the Vikings this offseason because he was unable to replicate his early-career success with Arizona, which made him the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft and released him earlier this month, taking on a considerable dead money hit in the process. The Cards acquired Hopkins via trade with the Texans prior to Murray’s second professional campaign, and Murray enjoyed the best seasons of his career when Hopkins was one of his top weapons, earning Pro Bowl nods in both 2020 and 2021.
Much has changed since then, however. While Murray has struggled with health and consistency, Hopkins has bounced from the Cardinals to the Titans to the Chiefs to the Ravens, and despite appearing in all 17 games for Baltimore last season, he was largely absent from the club’s offensive attack.
After catching four balls for 99 yards and two touchdowns over the first two weeks of the 2025 schedule, Hopkins totaled just 18 receptions for 231 scoreless yards the rest of the way. Even though quarterback Lamar Jackson’s inconsistent, injury-plagued season doubtlessly played some role in that, Hopkins’ age (34 in June) and diminished production explain the lack of interest in his services to date.
At some point, though, he should be able to catch on with a team in need of receiving help. Hopkins still profiles as a viable red zone threat, and with the Vikings boasting Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on their roster, they do not need Hopkins to be the player he was during his heyday. They merely need him to be a consistent ancillary target.
Hopkins is not in a position to rebuff overtures from any team, and there is no guarantee Minnesota will reciprocate his interest. Still, there is some logic to a partnership, as the Vikes – who lost Jalen Nailor to the Raiders in free agency – currently have no proven WR depth behind Jefferson and Addison.
Hopkins has also expressed a willingness to re-up with Baltimore, which completely overhauled its coaching staff this offseason.