MAY 30: Hopkins’ release is now official, per the NFL’s transaction wire. Officially a free agent as of Tuesday afternoon, the 10-year veteran wide receiver — who has since hired a certified agent — is free to sign with another team.
MAY 26: The DeAndre Hopkins situation has come to an abrupt and unexpected end. The Cardinals have released the veteran receiver, per a team announcement.
The move proves that trade talks never progressed as far as Arizona would have liked, with his contract representing a major impediment to teams becoming willing to part with assets to acquire the three-time All-Pro. As a result, they will now move on from him without receiving anything in return. The Cardinals will save $8.9MM in cap space in 2023 via this release, while generating a dead money charge of $21.1MM. He will be off the books entirely in 2024. 
The 30-year-old was due $19.45MM in salary this season, the second-to-last of his current contract. That figure would have been relatively reasonable given the current nature of the WR market, but Hopkins’ scheduled cap hit was a far more burdensome $29.99MM in 2023, and $25.5MM in 2024. That led interested teams to ask the Cardinals to eat a portion of his contract to facilitate a trade, but not much progress was made on that front. Now, Hopkins is free to explore his options amongst the teams he has mentioned as potential destinations this offseason.
That list includes a number of AFC contenders, such as the Chiefs and Bills. The Ravens – who have already made signficant WR additions in the form of free agent signing Odell Beckham Jr. and first-round rookie Zay Flowers – have also been linked to a Hopkins move this offseason. In the NFC, the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts have been floated as a possibility by Hopkins himself and others.
From Arizona’s perspective, this move marks a staunch about-face with respect to the public remarks made by new general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon on their intentions of retaining Hopkins for at least one more year. The former said around the draft that they planned to move forward with the five-time Pro Bowler for 2023, but this season is expected to be a rebuilding one in Arizona, so trade talks were logical.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes (on Twitter) that the Cardinals actively tried to move Hopkins, rather than simply listening to offers from potential suitors. As expected, though, Howe adds that his compensation, along with age and missed time due to injuries and suspension weighed down Hopkins’ trade market. The former Texans first-rounder played a full season in 2020, his first year in the desert, but has suited up for just 19 contests in two years since then.
In his time on the field last year, Hopkins remained a productive element of the Cardinals’ passing attack with 717 yards and three touchdowns on 64 receptions. His 1,407-yard campaign in 2020 marked the sixth time in 10 seasons that he eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau. If he is able to do so again in 2023, a deal from any interested team will be worthwhile.
Today’s news leaves Arizona with Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, Zach Pascal, Greg Dortch and third-round rookie Michael Wilson on their WR depth chart, They will be leaned on during a transition year for the Cardinals, while Hopkins embarks on free agency for the first time in his decorated career. Where he lands on the open market will be no doubt a major storyline to follow.
Engage operation TANK MODE!
widdle tiny tank
They technically don’t have to tank. They still have the Texans pick.
Texans pick won’t be as high as it was last year.
With a recently extended Kyler Murray at QB it’s hard to believe they would be tanking for the #1 pick. But then again the league is definitely a “what have you done for me lately?” league and it’s not out of the question.
mcdusty49 I don’t think it says much about their status/plan for next season. It’s obvious he wanted out, and no win now contender wanted to trade for him with that high cap number.
He’s not worth ‘holding hostage’ anymore either. He likely already is, or will be going into decline sooner than later. Missed a lot of games for Arizona, and is about to turn 31.
I agree that Hopkins’ contract, age, and missed time all made holding on to him unrealistic. I do find it hard it hard to believe that other teams refused to even hand over a fourth or fifth for him, contract or no. With how simple it is to kick the can down the road today, you’d think that a team would be willing to send something for a player who recently was arguably the best receiver in the league. I mean, the Cards are eating his charge as is. You’re telling me that they’d rather release Hopkins than pay part of it and getting just something in return? Or that no one else was willing to do that?
I suppose Hopkins’ insistence that he go to the contender complicated matters, but getting nothing at all for him seems pretty disappointing. One more gift from Keim, I suppose…along with the Murray deal.
I feel like having Kyler Murray as your QB could be considered tanking
Unless it’s flag football
I’m not sure why now. Isn’t 6/2 the date to make “post-June-1” cuts that can spread out the cap hit?
You can designate something as a “post June 1” cut.
I believe you can designate 1 or 2 players per year as post June 1st cuts no matter when you cut them.
I guess so but they can’t “officially” sign somewhere else before then.
Plus AZ may already be chalking this up as a lost year with the state of the roster and the Kyler injury. It may make more sense to eat all the dead money this year and leave yourself in a better spot for next years cap
Kyler ’bout to get replaced by his OU replacement lol
Future Buffalo Bill! Just what the team needs
Jets on line 1
Come to Philly if you want to live
C’mon Chargers scoop him up
No, he’s not going to Buffalo, New York, Philly, or San Diego. At this point in his career, he wants to win. Therefore, we will be seeing him in Kansas City real soon.
Hope he doesn’t go to San Diego since there’s no NFL team to play for there.
Oops. True story. Regardless, you get the point.
Yeah for sure just had to bust your chops a little bit.
Cincinnati has $15 million in cap space and Chiefs have none after signing left tackle and still need to sign Chandler Jones.
As if Mahomes and others won’t restructure their deals again to take home up-front cash and allow the team to sign more weapons??
Paddy Mahomes on Line 1
The 49ers are a WR away like this from an eagles run. I’d be disappointed if they can’t get it done. 1 year ship rental.
And a QB
As a 9ers fan, I agree if Brock Purdy isn’t ready. If he is, just have to hope he avoids the dreaded sophomore slump.
The 49ers were making “an Eagles run” before the Eagles did it. The Niners have proven sustainability by making the final four, 3 out of the last 4 years. They are not a WR like Dehop away, they are let’s not get our QB 1, QB 2, and QB 3 hurt away.
49ers accidentally found a QB after selling the farm. If they don’t win this year. They will have to rebuild on a 3-5 year lick. That’s what happens when you over pay on dismal QB
Haha. Eagles run. Haha. Good one.
Dee aiyuk kittle hop wow!
Please anywhere but the Chiefs!
Guess now he doesn’t have to feel like a slave anymore in the NFL.
Can u say both Caleb and Harrison jr to cards!
This guy can still be productive on a team with a good QB and an established #1 WR. If you want your team to bring him in as your #1 guy…you’re crazy.
I don’t think that’s necessarily true that the team has to have an established #1 WR. He’d be just fine in KC.
CincySapper 2 Yeah a lot of fans are acting like prime Texans Hopkins just got released.
I’m an Eagles fan but my quick assessment is he will go to the Browns to reconnect with Watson. They had a pretty good connection while with the Texans.
would love for da bears to sign him and continue to spread that offense out. would be a great addition and a nice 1-2 punch with Moore and Fields.
Bears are ruled out as he stated he wanted to play with a good QB….
Fields is a good QB and young with upside. I am excited to see what he can do with these new pieces this year.
The Bears are out because Poles hasn’t signed a FA that is even close to 30. they might make a little noise this year but 2024 will be the year they are really good. With 2 1st’s and probably just as much money in cap space as this year Poles will have free rein. Not to mention they still have 30 million bucks to spend this year.
To see Hop lined up in a 4WR set with Allen, Williams and rookie Johnston would be a formidable front for the Chargers.
But being cheap and needing to lock Herbert long term I’d not put more than $10 on that happening
JETS
(Enter your team here) need to pick up this guy! He’s gonna be great for the (enter your team here)!
So did the Texans win that trade then?
Probably going to the buffalo.
With buffalo?
*which buffalo. Dang it I messed that up!
Just like putting the in front of buffalo
The Cardinals front office is clearly a joke.
They did an extensive GM search to find a guy who could make an auspicious start by adding over $20M in dead cap money…lol.
Well the first thing Poles did was get rid of dead weight and add 53 million in dead cap money which was absolutely the right call. However I’m not sure you could call Hopkins dead weight. He’s only 30 and should still be a top receiver. Why would you get rid of a guy like that unless he was a clubhouse cancer? I’ve heard no rumors that Hopkins was anything like that. Dumb for getting suspended? Sure I get that but you’re right it’s still curious as to why you wouldn’t want him around.
The Cardinals management seems to have little tolerance for outspoken players. They haven’t much choice but to pacify Murray but they shopped Patrick Peterson the same way as Hopkins when he became vocal.