Pat McAfee claims he’s got sources that say DeAndre Hopkins is a strong contender to get traded during this week during the 2023 NFL Draft.
The ongoing availability of DeAndre Hopkins has been a long-gestating storyline around the National Football League for quite some time, but the annual NFL Draft has a way of closing such chapters and answering such questions. Just look at the Aaron Rodgers trade that was finally completed this week. Now we can only wonder if Hopkins might be next.
The Arizona Cardinals have had Hopkins on the league’s trade block for the last several weeks or more, but they’ve yet to deal the talented veteran wide receiver as rumors have come and gone in terms of asking prices and teams involved—and one rumor even stated that he might be released outright.
On Tuesday, Pat McAfee broadcast on his popular show that he had sources saying that it was a strong possibility Hopkins would be traded this week.
Of course, such a statement would be an easy call for most NFL fans. The NFL Draft has a way of forcing everyone to the table to get a deal done or putting such considerations aside until a much later date. After all, the Cardinals likely desire draft assets in return and they would be forced to acquire and then utilize those assets by the end of this week. It’s also important to note that any team in search of a wide receiver will want to know if Hopkins will be in their plans or not, because the draft might provide an alternate route for them to build the roster.
As for the Kansas City Chiefs, the team has been linked to Hopkins all along when it comes to trade rumors. The team’s potential need for a dependable pass catcher to go with Travis Kelce after the losses of Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster is one aspect of the deal, and the team’s had rumored interest in Hopkins specifically from various sources. The same could be said of Odell Beckham Jr. who went to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
Other teams reportedly involved over time include the Ravens, the Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets. A video of Hopkins even emerged in recent weeks with body language insinuating he’d rather play for the Chiefs or Bills over other teams, but that doesn’t K.C. will rise up to get him.
If the Cardinals are playing hardball on trade price or Hopkins is demanding a new deal, then the Chiefs are likely out on any trade. However, if the Cardinals aren’t holding out for a top 60 pick, let’s say, and Hopkins will play nice for a contender, things could get very interesting for the Chiefs as they host the draft this weekend.