DeAndre Hopkins is almost certainly on the move this offseason, and according to Benjamin Albright, the Falcons are one of the teams that have shown interest and are in a situation with cap space and draft picks to make a deal happen.
“Teams I’m told are interested with the possible capital to pull off a trade for Hopkins include (but aren’t limited to) the New England Patriots, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.”
Originally, the Cardinals were hoping to get a second-round pick as well as additional compensation for the All-Pro receiver, but reports around the league are now surfacing that the return won’t be anywhere close to that. A potential trade will look much more like what the Texans received for Brandon Cooks, who garnered a fifth and sixth round pick from the Cowboys.
Additionally, Ian Rapoport adds that Hopkins will likely have to restructure his deal in any trade scenario.
Hopkins was an All-Pro from 2017-2020 and arguably the best receiver in the league over that stretch, but injuries and a suspension have limited him to just 19 games over the last two seasons. Still, when he’s been on the field, he doesn’t look much different than the player that was running circles around the league just a few years ago. Hopkins has a lot of gas left in the tank and should be a high-quality weapon for whoever trades for him.
The contract is the bigger issue. Hopkins has a base salary of nearly $20 million in 2023 and $15 million in 2024. However, depending on how that is restructured, it could be much more palatable for a team like the Falcons, who still have a chunk of cap space and a glaring need for a #2 wide receiver across from Drake London.
DeAndre Hopkins could solidify the Falcons’ offense in a big way. Their offensive line may need to add a piece or two before the start of the season, but it’s already one of the better units in the league. There might not be a better tight end room in the NFL, and they also boast a stable of quality running backs. Adding Hopkins would give Desmond Ridder everything a young quarterback could possibly ask for to succeed.
The only reason I’m not sure it makes sense is because of the Falcons’ offensive identity. Last year, they wanted to pound the rock and only threw the ball 20 times a game with Marcus Mariota. If that’s the case again in Desmond Ridder’s first year as a starter, which is fair to assume, the Falcons don’t really need to invest that heavily into a second wide receiver, especially when they already have Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith. However, if the organization is confident in Ridder’s ability as a passer and wants to give him the absolute best chance to succeed, Hopkins would be a tremendous addition to the offense.
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