Jake TrotterESPN staff writer3 minutes to read
Which team is the best fit for DeAndre Hopkins?
Mike Tannenbaum reacts to the Cardinals’ release of DeAndre Hopkins and speculates which team would be a good fit for the receiver.
The Pro Bowl wide receiver was recently released by the Arizona Cardinals, paving the way for Hopkins to join another team for the upcoming season.
During a charity golf tournament for the Browns, Watson hinted that he told the Cleveland front office that he would like the team to make a home run at Hopkins.
“It’s kind of out of my bucket set,” Watson said. “All I can do is make a call and see what happens.”
Hopkins, 30, was a three-time All-Pro receiver playing Watson in Houston. In 2020, their final season together, Hopkins finished with 115 catches for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns.
In his final two seasons with Arizona, Hopkins collected only 106 catches in 19 games. Many teams are expected to follow Hopkins, including other AFC rivals.
“D-Hope and I talk normally,” said Watson. “We’ve been talking since the Houston days… He’s always been a brother to me. … Our relationship has always been great. … Of course, we’d love to have him. He knows that.”
In an interview last week on the “I’m A Sportsman” podcast with Brandon Marshall, Hopkins said he’s looking for three things on a team at this point in his career — stable management, a quarterback who “loves the game as much as I do” and “a great defense.”
“I will just say this, de Hoop, de Andre Hopkins would love to be in a place where we have a chance to win,” Watson said on Tuesday. “We check all of those boxes and I think we have to know and make sure we tick all of those boxes on the national stage, we have to go out and prove that and I think D-Hop would love to be a part of that.”
Coach Kevin Stefanski would not comment on the team’s interest in Hopkins, saying he was pleased with some of the off-season additions.
“I really like our spacious reception room,” Stefanski said. “I love the guys out there. [General manager] Andrew [Berry] He and his crew are always looking every way and that sort of thing, so I wouldn’t comment specifically on the player other than to say I really like our roster.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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