The Cardinals and DeAndre Hopkins have agreed to a two-year, $54.5MM extension, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The new money average comes out to $27.25MM/year, a whopping sum that positions Hopkins as the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. 
[RELATED: Cardinals Rework D.J. Humphries’ Contract]
The highest-paid non-QB mantle previously belonged to Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, who’s making $23.5MM per annum. And, by topping $22MM per year on average, he’s now ahead of previous WR-watermark holder Falcons star Julio Jones. Of course, Hopkins still has three years to go on his existing deal, so it all totals up to a five-year, $95MM deal. Still, that’s far from chump change, and an average annual value of ~$19MM still puts him in the top five at wide receiver.
Hopkins – a three-time First-Team All-Pro – still managed 104 catches for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns in a “down” 2019. Since 2013, he’s racked up 632 receptions, 8,602 receiving yards, and 54 touchdowns, while missing only two games. That’s not to say that Hopkins hasn’t dealt with injuries. Despite having a pin inserted in his surgically repaired wrist, Hopkins played through the pain and performed as one of the best offensive players in the game.
Before the deal, Hopkins had three seasons to go on his deal, all of which were non-guaranteed. The extension is expensive, but the Cardinals had this penciled in the budget before acquiring the superstar from the Texans. Ultimately, its worthwhile, especially when considering that they effectively acquired D-Hop for David Johnson and a second-round choice.
Always has been a strange move by the Texans…
Especially considering Diggs brought more picks to the Vikes than D Hop did for Texans
But is it guaranteed?
Hopkins negotiated the contract himself and will earn $42.75 million guaranteed, Rapoport added. He will get $27.5 million as a signing bonus and the second year on the contract is voidable.
On his previous contract signed with Houston, Hopkins was slated to make $12.5 million in 2020, $13.5 million in 2021 and $13.9 million in 2022 — all well below the market value for a top-five receiver. None of that money was guaranteed.
is it front-loaded? id hope for their sake it is, because if he gets injured two years from now they’re in deep trouble.
Shouldn’t make a difference for cap purposes.
Julio Jones is about to start pouting and sitting out again if the Falcons don’t give him a raise.
you know Julio Jones might as well have a little contract stipulations stating that any time another wide receiver passes Julio Jones for the highest paid contract for receiver it should state did Julio Jones will always be paid $1 more than the highest wide receiver salary
No responsible GM would ever agree to such a stipulation.
Of course, but I think he was joking.
It’s been one of the most productive off seasons I’ve seen from the Cardinals in a long time. They look poised to have a breakout.
Well w/o question the cards HC has a much better living room than the Bengals HC! The Bengals HC ‘office’ looked like an IKEA cubicle during the draft. So they won that title at least.
Murray has zero excuse to not put up numbers this year. I do not think that he is the answer, but the full commitment Keim has made to building a team and coaching staff around him is unprecedented. Kingsbury may not be a great coach, but his system does put up passing numbers and with all of the talent Arizona has acquired, Murray’s game can only elevate.
Lol ikea