3. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
It still seems odd to put Arizona Cardinals next to his name. And yes, for those wondering, I almost used our favorite Bill O’Brien photo out of habit.
You know, this one:
Like a warm face cloth and a shave. Two bits.
If you are going to crack the top three of a list like this, you need to have every club in the bag as a wide receiver.
DeAndre Hopkins has every club in the bag. Let’s go from snap-to-finish.
Releases? Check:
.@DeAndreHopkins using a 1-step jab release to win his goal line slant
The quick & aggressive jab + head fake outside makes the DB lose his inside leverage, allowing Hopkins to cross his face pic.twitter.com/qIkp3bcuZK
— Receiver School (@ReceiverSchool) July 13, 2020
Beating press? Check:
Watch Desir try to engage with @DeAndreHopkins here
DBs always try to get physical with Hopkins and it rarely goes well for them pic.twitter.com/WmAm572sgZ
— Rohan Sanghani (@RohanSanghani4) July 12, 2020
Route-running? Check:
This is a sick route from @DeAndreHopkins on his 41-yard catch on White. That release and stacks him on the top of the route. The late burst to go get the ball plus the catch radius. Man. #Texans pic.twitter.com/ro6GrBXS3Z
— patrick (@PatDStat) January 5, 2020
Awareness? Check:
Why is DeAndre Hopkins the best? 3rd and 6. Split left. Runs and in route. Watch him shuffle into the crease of the defense to get to the sticks. Gets 10 and a first down. #Texans pic.twitter.com/uCbE5qvi76
— patrick (@PatDStat) September 11, 2019
Catch-point? Check:
Just throw it anywhere near DeAndre Hopkins and HE WILL CATCH IT.
(via @HoustonTexans) pic.twitter.com/W88IlE5jwT
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 22, 2019
From the line of scrimmage to the catch-point, Hopkins is teaching tape. He can vary his releases off the line to keep defenders off-balance, he is savvy throughout his routes and especially into his vertical stem, and he displays an incredible catch radius that will make any quarterback happy.
This season, that quarterback will be Kyler Murray, and not Deshaun Watson.
Don’t make me post that picture again…