Former GM explains why Cardinals can't trade DeAndre Hopkins

Former Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim isn't wondering why the club hasn't yet traded star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. 

"Here’s the problem," Keim said during an appearance on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast, as shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "The problem is his current contract. . . . Hop was his own agent, and I can tell you that wasn’t the easiest [negotiation] in the world. Between him and Larry Fitzgerald, that put all the gray on my beard." 

Florio pointed out that Hopkins is on track to make $19.45M in 2023 and $14.9M in 2024. Meanwhile, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported as far back as March 12 that the Cardinals were looking to land "a premium Day 2 (draft) pick and more" for Hopkins. 

Hopkins is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro, but he's coming off a season that included him serving a suspension related to performance-enhancing drugs and a campaign in which he caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns across nine games. Additionally, the veteran turns 31 years old in June at a time when the league is filled with younger and cheaper players at his position.

"(The Cardinals are) probably going to have to come to understand that they’re probably not going to get as much as they would if he was a younger player or his contract was considerably lower, where you could get him for a second-round [pick]," Keim remarked about a potential trade. "It could end up being a second- or third-day draft pick to really get it done. Probably [need to] get a new deal done." 

During an ESPN segment that aired on Wednesday, analyst Dan Orlovsky linked Hopkins with the Los Angeles Chargers. It's unknown if the Chargers are interested in making a move for the receiver before or possibly during the draft, and it's unclear if Hopkins would be willing to rework his agreement to help make a trade easier to complete.