Newly-minted Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins is changing agents. Per Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal, Hopkins is leaving Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and he will be eligible to sign with a new agent on Sunday (Twitter link).
The move is particularly notable because of Hopkins’ contract status. The star receiver, who went to the desert in a shocking trade between the Cardinals and Texans earlier this offseason, still has three years remaining on his current deal, but he has been negotiating a new pact with Arizona. He has indicated that he is not demanding a new contract, but the Cardinals are amenable to giving him one if the price is right.
Apparently, Hopkins was less than thrilled about how negotiations were going between CAA and the Cardinals. CAA is easily the top player agency in professional sports and counts Aaron Donald and Matthew Stafford among its most notable NFL clients, but its reputation wasn’t enough to get the job done.
Recent rumors have suggested that Hopkins’ next deal could make him the highest-paid non-QB in the league. However, given that he remains under club control through 2022, and considering the league-wide concern in giving out massive extensions in the current financial climate, that could be a tough sell. We will see if his new agency — assuming he does not choose to represent himself — can make more headway in that regard.
Hopkins joins an Arizona offense that has the potential to be explosive in 2020. The three-time First Team All-Pro has averaged over 90 catches per season for roughly 1,230 yards and eight TDs over his first seven years in the league.
murry got to be the luckiest young QB to ever come in. who can say they get to play with a HOF WR and and up and coming HOF WR in just his second year.
Easy, easy answer. Daunte Culpepper.
2 HoF’ers for Culpepper; Carter & Moss.
Nice answer. Let’s get a good conversation going. Brady with Moss and Gronk? Who’s next.
im taking about young QBs not a already made star. brady had already made a name for him self before moss and gronk that doeant fit my point
It’s a curious move considering initially the issue in Houston was a contract and now he’s leaving the best agency in the sport. Sounds like the teams and the agency are under the impression it’s gonna be a lot to do a new deal and he doesn’t want to hear it.
Never a billionaire over millionaire type of guy but that deal was good when he signed it. I don’t understand how 81M over 5 years is now some affront to Hopkins.
greed
Being with the top agency has some drawbacks. They have many clients so they can put you on the back burner if you still have plenty of time left on your existing contract. Obviously Hopkins feels a greater urgency so a change could be to his advantage. As long as he doesn’t get the crazy idea of self representation he should do just fine with the Redbirds.