Cowboys' Stephen Jones addresses possible DeAndre Hopkins pursuit

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones sounds uninterested in acquiring former Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

"He’s not on this team right now," Jones said about Hopkins on Monday, as shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 

Jones also noted that the Cowboys acquired Brandin Cooks from the Texans earlier in the offseason and are now "pleased with our receiving group." 

Ahead of the weekend, ESPN's Todd Archer explained that the Cowboys had "more than $21M" in available salary-cap space but will need to save cash for "practice squad, injury settlements and in-season elevations," incentives paid out at the end of the season and also possible contract extensions for current players. Meanwhile, it was reported last week that Hopkins wants a contract similar to the one-year, $15M deal that includes up to $3M in incentives that Odell Beckham Jr. received from the Baltimore Ravens in April. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted on May 26 that Hopkins indicated during an appearance on the "I Am Athlete" podcast he'd like to play for the Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs or Los Angeles Chargers. NFL reporter Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post said last week that the free-agent receiver may consider taking a discount to chase a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs, Bills or Ravens, but it's unclear if the three-time First-Team All-Pro who turns 31 on Tuesday would accept less money to play alongside Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. 

Florio suggested Hopkins may have priced himself out of conversations with at least some teams. 

"Hopkins was (officially) released six days ago," Florio said. "There have been no visits, no reports regarding active negotiations. It all points to the probability that Hopkins still wants more than the market will justify." 

Jones didn't slam the door shut on possibly signing Hopkins before the regular-season opener at the New York Giants on Sept. 10, but it sounds like the five-time Pro Bowl selection may need to lower his asking price to join Dallas before Week 1 of the campaign.