DeAndre Hopkins’ Next Chapter

DeAndre Hopkins’ Next Chapter

Last month on the I Am Athlete podcast, DeAndre Hopkins answered a question about which quarterbacks he’d like to play with. The five names mentioned were Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert.

This may not seem like a huge deal because athletes are asked questions like this all the time. However, the problems arose when he began describing ideal aspects of an organization and indirectly blasting the cardinals.

Hopkins also elaborated on how he’s had constant mismanagement in the front office and frequent GM changes, causing dysfunction in front offices.

He grouped in the Cardinals with the dysfunctional organizations he’s been part of. The Cardinals clearly didn’t take too kindly to the comments as the star receiver was released just a few days later.

Now, Hopkins is a free agent and can sign with any team he wants. On the podcast, Hopkins mentioned that he would like to be part of a team with “stable management upstairs, a quarterback who loves the game – pushes not just himself, but everyone around him, and a great defense.” Given this wish list for a franchise, there are a few teams that come to mind that fit the criteria

5. The Pittsburgh Steelers

Although they’re likely the biggest longshot on this list, the Steelers would make a great home for Hopkins. Often known for being possibly the most stable organization in sports, the Steelers have had only three head coaches in the past 54 years.

They have a good, young quarterback in Kenny Pickett who is coming into his own as a leader, and you can’t say enough about their defense. At least since the super bowl era, the Steelers have been predicated on defense. They may have explosive offenses from time-to-time, but they always have a stellar defense. They may not be the most attractive destination, but the Steelers organization would be a rock for Hopkins.

4. The Kansas City Chiefs

Since the Chiefs hired Brett Veach in 2017, they have steadied the course, after having a rocky front office to begin the 2010s. Andy Reid has been the head coach there for ten years now, and most likely will continue coaching there until he’s ready to walk away.

The quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. needs no introduction. He has been a top three quarterback since he stepped on an NFL field and players can’t say enough about his leadership. The only knock on the chiefs as a destination is that their defense is average at best. However, the front office situation and quarterbacking may allow Hopkins to overlook their shortcomings on defense.

3. The New Orleans Saints

The Saints are well-known for having one of the strongest and most stable front offices in the league. They frequently make great productive free agent signings and have great draft picks. New Orleans was stuck in quarterback limbo until earlier this offseason when they signed Derek Carr. While he isn’t a top QB, Carr has been renowned by his teammates for his fierce leadership and fiery competitiveness.

Also, for the latter part of Drew Brees’ career his age really started to show, so the Saints relied on stout defense to win games. The Saints check all the boxes that Hopkins needs, however former head coach Sean Payton stepping away could be a deterrent.

2. The Philadelphia Eagles

In a single offseason the Eagles went from as dysfunctional as it gets to a model of a stable and structured front office. While not holding the position the entire time, current Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has been with the team since 2000. Head coach Nick Sirianni has also quickly established a culture of winning and outworking opponents.

This mindset is enforced by breakout superstar quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts is frequently described as one of, if not the greatest leader in Football. The Eagles have a star-studded offense, but their defense is no pushover. The Eagles’ defense was ranked eighth in the NFL last year, and this was with a plethora of injuries. With two star receivers already, Philadelphia would be an almost perfect landing spot for Hopkins, the only problem is the Eagles likely do not have the cap space required to sign the receiver.

1.     The Buffalo Bills

Since general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott arrived back in 2017, they have completely flipped the culture in Buffalo, headed by a strong, solid front office that drafted much of the current roster. Another quarterback who needs no introduction is superstar Josh Allen. While his leadership style may be more laid back than others, his teammates feel his will to win and follow behind him like he’s the general of an army.

While Allen was still developing, he was carried by the defense while he was allowed to take baby steps. In turn, the Bills turned into a juggernaut on both sides of the ball. Buffalo checks all of Hopkins' boxes and they seem to have the cap space to pull off a Hopkins signing. The question now is will they give any effort in the pursuit of the superstar receiver?