DeAndre Hopkins Trade Rumors: Buffalo Bills a Possible Landing Spot

The 2023 NFL offseason has been ripe with rumors of a possible DeAndre Hopkins trade from the Arizona Cardinals.[0] The star wide receiver has expressed dissatisfaction with the team, and the Cardinals are looking to get his $30.7 million cap hit off their books.[1] The Buffalo Bills, in desperate need of another high-end wide receiver, are seen as a possible landing spot for Hopkins, who would be an excellent fit for their team.[1] Insider reports suggest that the Bills may have received good news about the trade compensation they would need to give up to bring Hopkins to Western New York.[1]

While trade talks between the Bills and Cardinals have been ongoing, nothing appears to be imminent, and any deal is likely to happen closer to the NFL draft in April.[2] If the Bills can acquire Hopkins without giving up their first-round pick and instead spreading later draft picks over two seasons, it would be an ideal situation for them.[1] Additionally, the Bills have unhappy defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who wants out, and adding him to the trade could lessen the draft compensation even more.[1]

Hopkins has been the biggest name on the trading block all offseason, and in a year where elite receivers are hard to come by, he remains an option that must be tempting for several teams, even with his contract.[3] While his contract was once seen as an outlier, it is now more palatable than it was when he first received it, which could tempt some teams into parting with a draft pick to secure a No. 1 option.[3] Hopkins has been an incredibly productive player throughout his career, gaining over 2.0 yards per route run and catching over 50% of contested catches last season.[4] At 30 years old, he still likely has multiple seasons left at the top before decline sets in.[3]

While Hopkins has two years and $34.4 million left on his current contract, there is no guaranteed money in the deal, and the Cardinals may need to rework his contract to trade him.[2] ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler has reported that the Cardinals are looking for a “Christian McCaffrey package” for Hopkins, referencing the trade that sent McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers for multiple draft picks.[4] However, it is highly unlikely that the Cardinals will receive that much for Hopkins.[5]

Despite missing significant time since the start of the 2021 season due to suspension and injuries, Hopkins remains an elite receiver and a productive player. While there are concerns about his durability and cap hits, teams around the league are still interested in acquiring him. Possible landing spots for Hopkins include the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals.

While the trade rumors around Hopkins continue to swirl, new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is not fanning the flames.[6] He remains focused on coaching Hopkins and is excited to work with the elite player.[7] If the Cardinals are going to trade Hopkins, they may need to lower their asking price for the veteran wide receiver, as factors such as his age, injuries, and suspension have led to a drop in his draft value.[4] However, any team that acquires Hopkins will likely restructure his deal.[2]

In conclusion, while a DeAndre Hopkins trade seems increasingly likely, it remains to be seen which team will acquire him and at what cost.[6] Hopkins remains an elite player who would be an excellent addition to any team, but concerns about his contract and durability may impact trade negotiations. Regardless of where he ends up, Hopkins is sure to continue his impressive career as one of the NFL's top wide receivers.

0. “DeAndre Hopkins trade rumors: Cardinals grant receiver permission to talk with teams” CBS Sports, 27 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/deandre-hopkins-trade-rumors-cardinals-grant-receiver-permission-to-talk-with-teams/

1. “DeAndre Hopkins Trade: Bills Get Great News in WR Pursuit” Sportscasting, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.sportscasting.com/deandre-hopkins-trade-bills-great-news-wr-pursuit/

2. “Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon gives updates on DeAndre Hopkins, Kyler Murray” The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2023/03/26/cardinals-coach-jonathan-gannon-updates-on-deandre-hopkins-kyler-murray/70050312007/

3. “Another team emerges as trade suitor for former Clemson WR – Clemson NFL News” TigerNet, 23 Mar. 2023, https://www.tigernet.com/clemson-nfl/news/another-team-emerges-as-trade-suitor-for-deandre-hopkins-41991

4. “DeAndre Hopkins Trade Rumors: Cardinals Eye ‘Christian McCaffrey Package' for Star WR” Bleacher Report, 25 Mar. 2023, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10070022-deandre-hopkins-trade-rumors-cardinals-eye-christian-mccaffrey-package-for-star-wr

5. “Cardinals’ reported asking price for DeAndre Hopkins revealed” Larry Brown Sports, 26 Mar. 2023, https://larrybrownsports.com/football/cardinals-asking-price-deandre-hopkins/613133

6. “HC Jonathan Gannon on DeAndre Hopkins trade rumors: ‘I'm operating that he's a Cardinal'” NFL.com, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.nfl.com/news/hc-jonathan-gannon-on-deandre-hopkins-trade-rumors-i-m-operating-that-he-s-a-car

7. “DeAndre Hopkins trade rumors: Cardinals first-year head coach addresses star WR's status with team” CBS Sports, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/deandre-hopkins-trade-rumors-cardinals-first-year-head-coach-addresses-star-wrs-status-with-team

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