Are the Giants serious contenders to land DeAndre Hopkins?

After back-to-back subpar seasons riddled with injuries and an offseason littered with trade speculation, the Arizona Cardinals ultimately opted to release DeAndre Hopkins.

Arizona's decision gifts a slew of wide receiver-needy squads the opportunity to add an intriguing target late in free agency. One of those teams is the New York Giants, who ESPN's Jeremy Fowler named a darkhorse candidate to land Hopkins. 

The Giants went out of their way this offseason to add to their passing arsenal, acquiring Darren Waller and using a third-round selection on Tennessee speedster Jalin Hyatt. However, they still lack a true game-changer on the outside for quarterback Daniel Jones.

Cap space is the first red flag that potentially halts such a move for the G-Men. According to Spotrac, New York has less than $5 million of available cap space and still needs to ink running back Saquon Barkley to an extension. There's also bound to be some PTSD when it comes to the thought of investing in an aging, big-bodied wideout. Similar to when the Giants signed big-ticket bust Kenny Golladay, Hopkins is also coming off a career-low in touchdowns (three) and back-to-back sub-66 reception campaigns. 

Still, Golladay flopping shouldn't deter general manager Joe Schoen from adding a talent such as Hopkins to the roster. Schoen is no stranger to making beneficiary splash moves at the receiver position. He served as the assistant general manager in Buffalo when the Bills struck a blockbuster trade for wideout Stefon Diggs in 2020. Since that move, Diggs' 338 receptions are tied with Davante Adams for the most in the NFL, while his 4,189 receiving yards rank top-four. 

Ultimately, the Giants could finagle their cap situation to make room for Hopkins. As suggested by Sports Illustrated's Patricia Traina, the team could convert Adoree' Jackson's $11 million base salary into a signing bonus spread across the next two seasons. Adjustments to Tyrod Taylor and/or Leonard Williams' contracts could also prove beneficial. 

Having said that, Hopkins making his way to East Rutherford remains a long shot. The 30-year-old pass catcher is likely looking to latch on with a true win-now team. 

While the Giants did make the postseason last year, legitimate Super Bowl contenders such as the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs likely trump Big Blue on the wideout's list of preferred destinations. Beyond that, the Giants appear content in developing their bevy of promising wideouts while featuring Waller and Barkley as their go-to playmakers in 2023. 

Still, never say never. If Hopkins' market doesn't develop the way it's expected to, don't be surprised to see Schoen pounce on a low-risk, high-reward move at the receiver position.