REPORT: 3 Teams Emerge As Top Landing Spots For Free Agent WR DeAndre Hopkins

In an unforeseen turn of events, the Arizona Cardinals made headlines on Friday afternoon by letting go of their renowned wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins.

Hopkins, now 30 and an indisputable force on the field, has been a topic of trade speculations for quite some time. However, the Cardinals chose a different path, releasing the accomplished receiver with a year left on his deal.

According to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, teams such as the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots had been "eyeing Hopkins" with keen interest, even before his release from the Cardinals became a reality.

Given Hopkins' standing as one of the finest offensive contributors of the last ten years, there's no doubt a flurry of interest will follow this news. Despite being restricted to a mere nine games last season, Hopkins still managed an impressive 64 catches, amounting to 717 yards and three touchdowns.

Selected 27th overall by the Houston Texans back in 2013, Hopkins made significant strides during his six-season tenure with them, aiding the team to clinch AFC South division titles in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. Crossing the 1,000 yards receiving mark in six of his ten seasons speaks volumes about his consistent performance. Hopkins' career stats boast a whopping 853 catches, 11,298 yards, and 71 touchdowns.

Without question, the Cardinals will be stepping onto the field with a significantly different lineup in 2023. Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon, the fresh GM-coach pair, will be at the helm, while their starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, takes time off to recuperate from a torn ACL.

The exits of Hopkins, J.J. Watt (who recently retired), Zach Allen (now with the Denver Broncos), and Byron Murphy (who's made the move to the Minnesota Vikings) suggest a challenging year lies ahead in The Desert.

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