DeAndre Hopkins' lucrative contract demands have been released, with the wide receiver on the hunt for a 'significant contract' upon a potential return to the NFL.
Hopkins - who broke into the NFL with the Houston Texans in 2013 - spent the last two years with the Arizona Cardinals before being released earlier this week. The 30-year-old was cut from the Cardinals roster so the franchise could absorb his $22.6million dead salary cap.
A player of Hopkins' calibre is expected to be picked up ahead of the beginning of the season, but it has since emerged that he is expecting a high offer for his services.
According to NBC Sports, Hopkins' standards are high, with the 31-year-old in the market for a 'substantial' payday when NFL franchises come knocking. All eyes will be on the wide receiver this coming summer, on his decision on where he opts to play his football in the upcoming campaign.
Speaking after his departure from Arizona, Hopkins told the I AM ATHLETE podcast what he himself is looking for in a new team. "What I want is stable management upstairs, that's something I haven't really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston and then to Arizona," Hopkins said.
"A quarterback who loves the game, a quarterback who brings everybody on board with him, not just himself but everybody around him... and a great defence. A great defence wins championships." Playing with an able quarterback is clearly high on the priority list for Hopkins.
And the former Cardinals man has already dropped a list of star-studded players who he would like to play with. Highlighting Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, he said: "I would have to say one of my favorite quarterbacks I've been watching since he came in the league is Josh Allen. He reminds me of a new-school Andrew Luck."
Hopkins then went on to also mention Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles), Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) and Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), in that order. He then also went on to include wJustin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers in his list.
