The Arizona Cardinals announced the release of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Friday. It was not what they initially wanted to do. They wanted to trade him but were unsuccessful to do so before or during the NFL draft.
According to SI.com’s Albert Breer, only two teams had substantive trade talks with Arizona.
They were the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
Per Breer, Hopkins’ contract (he was due more than $19 million in salary in 2023) was the problem in talks with the Bills.
For the Chiefs, it was the contract that Odell Beckham with the Baltimore Ravens ($15 million between signing bonus and salary) blew up the progress the Chiefs made with the Cardinals. There was progress with the Chiefs.
Now Hopkins will be free to sign with the team of his choice. That might end up being the Chiefs.
This answers the question many have as to whether the Cardinals had any offer that they turned down. They didn’t. Hopkins’ contract got in the way.
If they weren’t willing to pay Hopkins any more money before the trade, then releasing him ultimately was the only option they were going to have, and that is what happened.
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