Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins remains a free agent after being suddenly released by the franchise, but the Jacksonville Jaguars won't be in the mix for the 30-year-old.
Hopkins was rumoured to be seeking a trade away from the Cardinals this offseason, but rather than negotiate a package with another NFL team they decided to release him instead. It was a bold move by the Cardinals as Hopkins is one of their star players, but by cutting ties with the receiver it gives them $26.67 million to work with in cap space.
The receiver is reportedly seeking a similar deal to the one that Odell Beckham Jr was offered by the Baltimore Ravens, who signed him on a one-year deal worth $15m guaranteed with an extra $3m in incentives. Those demands instantly rule out the majority of NFL teams, and the Jaguars have also confirmed they can't realistically pursue a deal.
"At this time, it’s not a reality to bring someone else in," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson stated to 1010XL in Jacksonville on Monday. The Jaguars currently have $10m in salary cap space, meaning that unless Hopkins drastically lowered his demands then a deal would not be possible.
Two league executives told The Athletic that Hopkins wants the same kind of deal as Beckham Jr, but with Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones and Christian Kirk already in the roster, the Jaguars aren't exactly desperate for a new receiver.
When assessing the current state of play when it comes to cap space, there are 10 teams who could theoretically afford Hopkins. However, some teams have the ability to be more comfortable than others when it comes to negotiations.
The Chicago Bears have the most money to play with, with $38.275m remaining. The Carolina Panthers have $27.7m and lost receiver DJ Moore in a trade for the Bears' No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Among the remaining teams with eligible cap space are the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals, but so far no formal approach has been made for Hopkins. The Houston Texans are also a possibility, the team Hopkins left to join the Cardinals back in 2020.
Hopkins spent three seasons with the Cardinals before being released, and managed 221 receptions for 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns in 35 games during that time. Hopkins has 71 career touchdowns in 145 total games, but just one touchdown in six playoff appearances is a blemish on his record.
