The Giants inserted themselves into the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes earlier this week. Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters that the organization would look into a potential Hopkins signing, noting that GM Joe Schoen would do his research “anytime there’s someone that’s available as a free agent.”
However, it doesn’t sound like the organization’s pursuit will extend much beyond simple due diligence. A team source told Ralph Vacchiano of FoxSports.com that the team’s interest in Hopkins isn’t expected to continue beyond the exploratory stage.
Hopkins certainly made sense for a questionable Giants WR corps. While the team did add tight end Darren Waller, their only other notable move was signing Parris Campbell to a receivers room that also features Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins and Sterling Shepard.
Hopkins’ financial demands may have ended the Giants’ pursuit before it even began; the receiver is seeking around $15M per season while the Giants are currently armed with less than $4M in space. The Giants still have to make progress on a potential extension for Saquon Barkley, a contract that won’t do anything to alleviate their finances.
Another NFC East team that’s unlikely to add Hopkins is the Dallas Cowboys. Jon Machota of The Athletic writes that the team isn’t expected to sign the free agent, but coach Mike McCarthy did discuss the wideout to reporters.
“As far as players that are not here, I mean, there’s nothing good that comes out of those answers,” McCarthy said, via Machota. “Hop is a hell of a talent. I had a chance to be around (him) his first Pro Bowl. So, I’ve always had respect for him since his rookie year.”
One definitive suitor is the Chiefs, and Albert Breer of TheMMQB passes along some details of Kansas City’s offer to Hopkins. Kansas City offered the wideout an incentive-laden deal with a low base salary, and the front office noted that Hopkins could parlay a one-year stint in Kansas City into a more lucrative deal in 2024 (similar to JuJu Smith-Schuster).
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