Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins might want to stay in Arizona
One of the most eyebrow-raising statements of the past week's NFL draft was Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort saying a trade of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins wasn't likely to happen through the course of the three-day draft.
It didn't, Hopkins is still a Cardinal and on Monday was working out in the Phoenix area. In fact, Hopkins doesn't sound like he is looking to leave the Cardinals.
"I see everybody telling me to stay. Who said I wanted to go? Who said I wanted to leave?" Hopkins asked in a video on his Instagram account. "I'm out here working, baby."
Monti Ossenfort doesn’t foresee a deal getting done involving WR DeAndre Hopkins through the entire draft, he said.
— José M. Romero (@RomeroJoseM) April 28, 2023
The video appeared to show a workout facility in the background.
This could be a positive development for the Cardinals, of course, who reportedly allowed Hopkins to seek a trade toward the end of March and were said to be shopping Hopkins for a second-round draft pick and more.
Clearly, Ossenfort didn't get the offer for Hopkins he sought and was content to hang onto him. And while keeping Hopkins on the payroll is costly, he's still producing at a high level and brings off-the-field intangibles that can help a roster with high turnover.
Hopkins made some comments that seemed to indicate an interest in the Buffalo Bills that were shared on social media, but trade speculation never really heated up. The draft came and went, and Hopkins remains a Cardinal, due to make $19.45 million this upcoming season and $14.915 million in 2024 although neither salary is guaranteed.
It's likely Hopkins would like to play for a team that can contend for the Super Bowl, but he hasn't aggressively campaigned publicly to get the Cardinals to trade him.
There's no disputing the 30-year-old Hopkins' ability and the impact he has had over his three seasons with the Cardinals. Hopkins missed the first six games of the 2022 season due to an NFL-imposed suspension and played just nine games, but still had 64 catches for 717 yards including three touchdowns.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What Arizona Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins said about his current status
