Report: NFL teams believe money will be driver more than ring for DeAndre Hopkins
It appears there was some legitimate interest in DeAndre Hopkins from the Buffalo Bills. Reports indicate that the Bills were one of two teams that tried to trade for him prior to the Arizona Cardinals releasing him.
Hopkins himself has also went on the record to say he’d want to play in Buffalo and catch passes from Josh Allen.
But regardless, it could still be a costly contract for the Bills.
Or at least, NFL teams are thinking that.
Following Hopkins’ release from the Cardinals, NFL Network’s Mike Girardi reports that teams in the league believed prior to that draft that “money will be the driver” in signing Hopkins, “more so than a ring.”
Buffalo has had interest. The Patriots have had interest. Best I can tell, no one believes he is what he once was, and that will be part of the challenge in acquiring the player. A couple of teams I spoke with before the draft believe $$$ will be the driver in this, more so than… https://t.co/AQUeRoQbPJ
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) May 26, 2023
That could be a problem for the Bills.
According to Spotrac, Buffalo only has $1.6 million in cap space. Kansas City is the only team with less, $1.09M.
At this time, Buffalo might want Hopkins, but if the cost is too high they’ll be out of any bidding war in short order. It remains to be seen how much other teams in the NFL value the three-time All-Pro wideout.
The Bills will be hoping the bidding war stays low… or doesn’t exist.
