The Arizona Cardinals announced they are releasing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Arizona will absorb a dead $22.6 million salary cap hit this season (some say just $21 million), but won’t owe anything from the final year of his deal in 2024.
Hopkins was acquired via a trade with the Houston Texans in 2020 in exchange for running back David Johnson, a second-round pick, and a fourth rounder. In the last two seasons, Hopkins missed 15 games after only missing two total in his first eight years in the league. Six came in 2022 due to a PED suspension
The most memorable moment of his tenure is the “Hail Murray” catch against the Buffalo Bills on November 15, 2020.
It’s a new era for the bird gang in 2023 with new head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort. It appeared the Cardinals were shopping Hopkins all offseason, so this move means a deal never came to fruition.
With Hopkins’ departure, the Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver is now Hollywood Brown. Rondale Moore, Zach Pascal, Greg Dortch, and third-round pick Michael Wilson seem to be the next options in line on the depth chart.
It’s a rebuild in the desert. This move is one that jump starts the cap portion of a rebuild.
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