The Arizona Cardinals have released wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, according to an announcement made on Friday. Hopkins’ future with the team had been in question since the end of the 2022 season due to his team-high $30.75 million cap hit, which was the highest among wide receivers in the NFL and the seventh highest overall.
Financial Implications
By releasing Hopkins now, the Cardinals will save $8.15 million in cap space for the 2023 season. However, they will also take a dead cap hit of $22.6 million. Hopkins had been under contract through the 2024 season.
Trade Rumors
Hopkins had been at the center of trade speculation for months, but the Cardinals did not deal the wide receiver during April’s NFL draft. The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and New England Patriots were among the teams reportedly interested in pursuing Hopkins. Hopkins skipped the Cardinals’ voluntary organized team activities this month, saying on the “I Am Athlete” podcast with Brandon Marshall that he was instead in Toronto to work out.
Impact on Team
In his three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Hopkins had 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 receptions, including 64 catches for a team-leading 717 yards and three TDs last year. Hopkins missed the first six games of the 2022 season after being suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Without Hopkins, the Cardinals’ wide receiver corps will be led by Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, and Rondale Moore.
The Arizona Cardinals have released DeAndre Hopkins due to his team-high cap hit. Although trade rumors had been circulating for months, the Cardinals did not deal the wide receiver during the NFL draft. The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and New England Patriots were among the teams interested in pursuing Hopkins. Hopkins skipped the Cardinals’ voluntary organized team activities this month, saying on a podcast that he was working out in Toronto. The Cardinals will save $8.15 million in cap space in 2023 but will take a dead cap hit of $22.6 million. Hopkins had been under contract through the 2024 season. In his three seasons with the Cardinals, Hopkins had 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 receptions. The Cardinals’ wide receiver corps will be led by Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, and Rondale Moore without Hopkins.
Leave a Reply