Cardinals Made Right Call With DeAndre Hopkins Release
Shockwaves were sent through the NFL world when the Arizona Cardinals cut DeAndre Hopkins earlier this morning. Typically NFL insiders are able to sniff things like this out days prior, but it was in fact the team that broke the news in a short and simple memo:
"Tempe, AZ – The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team has released wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins."
The actual separation of Hopkins isn't surprising. The Cardinals were looking to move him since the beginning of the offseason and Hopkins clearly wanted to extend his career elsewhere.
However, given the massive trade speculation that ensued for months and the caliber of player Hopkins is, the release of Hopkins (rather than trading him for something of value) took many by surprise.
NFL insiders throughout the offseason maintained that Hopkins had no trade market due to his contract, age and inability to stay on the field.
"Some teams think that Cardinals are going to cut him, they think the Cardinals will wind up cutting him.” SI's Albert Breer said months ago “His market is not great right now. There’s nobody who was willing to take on Hopkins’ contract and pay the Cardinals initial asking price.”
Recently, The Athletic's Mike Jones echoed a similar sentiment.
"Front-office executives around the league believe it’s unlikely that any team would pull the trigger on a deal this offseason for a number of reasons, which include Hopkins’ contract terms, the belief that he wants a new multiyear deal and the salary-cap situations of teams that would fit the receiver’s criteria for a desired destination," said Jones.
The discussion/debate around Hopkins and whether the Cardinals should release or trade him has now flatlined. Hopkins is gone - and that's good news for Arizona.
The duties of a general manager are always tough during an offseason, but especially for first-year GM Monti Ossenfort, who took over a widely accepted dumpster fire and has since pieced together solid building blocks for the future.
- The Cardinals did not overpay to keep any of their free agents
- Arizona also did not overspend on any outside free agents as well
- The team did not cave into the demands of Budda Baker to make him the highest-paid safety in the league, nor did they cave on their asking price of Hopkins throughout the entire offseason.
- Ossenfort and company managed to assemble strong draft capital for 2024 while also obtaining crucial talent now in the draft.
If you're going to rebuild, you need to do it right. Ossenfort has essentially reset the Cardinals to square one and has given them an extremely bright outlook down the road, though an ugly 2023 will have to be part of that process.
That includes the omission of Hopkins on the roster.
Hopkins is turning 31-years-old, commanded a massive salary and very clearly wanted to move on. Why keep him around?
Admittedly so, watching Hopkins walk for nothing isn't a good look on immediate sight. Yet the Cardinals are more focused on playing the long game, which is why they will keep him as a designated Pre June 1 cut. Arizona will see his salary completely off the books next season.
The Cardinals finished 4-13 last season, lost some of their top talent and will see Kyler Murray return from an ACL at some point, though that's expected to be after the beginning of the season. 2023 wasn't going to be a great year no matter how you cut it in Arizona.
It's important for the Cardinals to keep their eyes peeled on the future. Thus far, Ossenfort and his regime have done a tremendous job of doing just that. Hopkins' departure is no fun for everybody, - but the NFL is a business - and Arizona continues to do that at a high level as they clean up the mess from the previous era.
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