On the trade block for several weeks now, DeAndre Hopkins remains tied to the Cardinals extension he signed in 2020. Teams are not eager to pay Hopkins at full price, with Dan Graziano of ESPN.com noting suitors want the Cards to pick up part of the tab.
Hopkins is due a $19.45MM base salary in 2023 — a number both higher than his 2022 salary ($6.65MM) and his 2024 payment ($14.92MM) — and may or may not want a raise as part of a trade. Hopkins is not a great spot to ask for a raise, given his recent injuries and PED suspension, and teams do not want to add the former All-Pro even on his current deal.
[RELATED: Which Team Will Acquire Cardinals WR?]
Suitors are waiting to see if the Cardinals move to eat some of that paragraph 5 salary, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds the NFC West team has not shown any inclination to do so yet. In the recent past, teams have picked up some of an outgoing player’s money to increase draft compensation in trades. The Broncos did so in their 2021 Von Miller trade; the Bears picked up much of Robert Quinn‘s remaining 2022 salary to convince the Eagles to throw in a fourth-round pick. No trade will involve a first-round pick, so the Cardinals have a bit more time to decide — if they are intent on picking up 2023 draft capital in a Hopkins swap.
Teams continue to wonder if the Cards will simply release Hopkins rather than eating more money than they would otherwise have to in a trade, Fowler adds. This previously rumored scenario would allow the Cardinals to save that $19.45MM — if they were to designate Hopkins as a post-June 1 cut. In a pre-draft trade (or any trade before June 1), the team would be hit with a $21.1MM dead-money charge. That number would go up if the Cards picked up some of Hopkins’ salary. The Cards hold just more than $20MM in cap space; that figure will change significantly once Hopkins is moved.
Rumored Hopkins suitors, the Bills and Chiefs have been connected to first-round wide receivers. The Ravens, despite their Odell Beckham Jr. agreement, have also been linked to the 11th-year veteran. The Cardinals could wait to see what dominoes fall this weekend, but the list of suitors may shrink after teams make receiver investments in the early rounds. Hopkins expressed interest in being dealt to Buffalo or Kansas City; he was less enthused about being moved to the Jets or Patriots. Then again, last year’s PED ban voided Hopkins’ no-trade clause.
How much did Cardinals give up to bring Hopkins aboard??? LOL.
only way I care about this transaction is if he goes to patriots with Bill OBrein and its on Hard Knocks.
Jackson x Beckham + Hopkins
Would equal one wild ride
D-Hop is an amazing talent, any team that trades for him will have a true number 1 receiver on the team. The price tag is high but at the same time so is the talent. Cardinals would be happy to get him off the roster to save cap space and probably willing to take a late 2nd or early 3rd for him. KC should offer pick 63 and pick 178 and tell AZ to pay 35% of his salary this year and KC will pay the rest. Just a wild idea.