NFL Insider Reveals Why Cardinals Haven't Traded DeAndre Hopkins
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Since the beginning of the offseason, the Arizona Cardinals have reportedly been trying to move WR DeAndre Hopkins.
Months later, Hopkins is still on the roster.
A potential deal made sense for both sides, as the Cardinals could shed some salary as their rebuild gets underway and Hopkins could find new beginnings in an attempt to capture the coveted championship that's alluded him his entire career.
So, why hasn't Hopkins been dealt yet?
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler made a cameo on SportsCenter and offered the following (h/t Bleacher Report):
"This is a name who's been percolating for a while now. This issue really is money. I've talked to multiple teams who believe a deal with Arizona is stagnant, there's not a whole lot going on because he's got that $19 million salary on the books," Fowler said.
"And I've talked to teams who think that Odell Beckham contract that happened a while ago is sort of a hindrance here for Hopkins because Odell Beckham got $15 million guaranteed, up to $18 million in incentives on a one-year deal. If you're Hopkins, you're saying: 'Hey, I'm more qualified, I've done a little more than Beckham. I can't take less than that, take a huge pay cut to go to a contender.' But you still have Buffalo, Kansas City, teams who could be looking for a receiver."
Beckham inked a deal with the Baltimore Ravens just a few weeks before the draft.
Hopkins is due $19.45 million in salary for 2023. He will be 31-years-old by the start of the 2023 season and will be a free agent after the 2024 season.
In terms of cap savings, a Post June 1 trade/release makes more sense for the Cardinals.
Pre June 1 Cut/Trade
Dead Money: $21.07 million
Cap Savings: $8.91 million
Post June 1 Cut/Trade
Dead Money: $10.53 million
Cap Savings: $19.45 million
Perhaps we see Hopkins moved later in the summer or even closer to the trade deadline, but now we have a better understanding of why he hasn't been moved just yet.
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