One league supply noticed DeAndre Hopkins’ launch from the Arizona Cardinals on Friday and texted this to the Daily News:
“Bills.”
But extra conversations have expanded the record: varied sources consider the Bills, Giants, Jets, Patriots, Chiefs and Raiders are groups who may very well be within the combine for the three-time All-Pro large receiver.
Hopkins, 30, has labored out with Saquon Barkley this offseason, and he not is carrying the albatross contract that made any hypothetical commerce a non-starter previous to the draft.
Imagine if Giants GM Joe Schoen landed Hopkins on prime of signing Barkley to an extension by mid-July: Not solely would the offense look extra harmful than it’s been in a decade-plus; that may formally make the Giants a vacation spot, which they haven’t been in a really very long time.
Hopkins did clarify not too long ago that Buffalo piques his curiosity.
“I would have to say one of my favorite quarterbacks I’ve been watching since he came in the league is Josh Allen,” Hopkins mentioned on the “I Am Athlete” podcast. “He reminds me of a new-school Andrew Luck. I love Josh Allen.”
He additionally mentioned he’d heard about Cardinals commerce conversations with the Patriots and Bills earlier this offseason, when the workforce was attempting to get one thing again for him.
Hopkins had been requested on the podcast to record the highest 5 quarterbacks he’d love throwing him the ball. Allen and the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts had been the 2 that had been on the tip of his tongue.
“Jalen Hurts. Man, Houston kid, he’s a dawg,” mentioned Hopkins, a former Texans first-round choose and star who nonetheless lives in Houston.
He then mentioned the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and, after pondering a bit, “my dude at San Diego,” the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.
But Hopkins later mentioned that he doesn’t want “a great QB … just a QB who loves the game like I do.” The Giants’ Daniel Jones, an above-average QB with a fantastic work ethic who the workforce believes can take the subsequent step, definitely qualifies there.
“Great management, a QB who loves the game and a great defense,” Hopkins mentioned of his prime three wants in free company.
“What I want is stable management upstairs,” he mentioned. “That’s one thing I haven’t actually had the previous couple years of my profession. … I’ve been by three or 4 GMs in my profession.
“Stable management. A QB who loves the game and brings everybody onboard with him and pushes not just himself but people around him,” Hopkins continued. “I don’t need a great QB. I’ve done it with subpar QBs. Just a QB who loves the game like I do. And a great defense. I think defense wins championships. That’s the key.”
A prime returning protection plus Aaron Rodgers makes the Jets engaging. Bill Belichick working the Patriots’ protection definitely doesn’t harm. As for the Raiders? Well, one factor they’ve is not any state earnings tax, they usually’re near Hopkins’ momentary Arizona house.
When Hopkins was requested if he appreciated the Dallas Cowboys’ colours, he laughed and mentioned: “No state tax is my favorite.” That would apply to franchises in Washington, Nevada, Florida or Texas.
Granted, Hopkins has solely performed in 19 complete video games the previous two years. He had extra receiving yards in 2020 (1,407) than he had up to now two years mixed (1,289).
Some sources additionally consider Hopkins may nonetheless be costly as a free agent, and that would proceed to rule out some suitors who would in any other case leap on the alternative to get him.
But he’s a supreme expertise who will add star energy and manufacturing within the applicable function for any workforce that lands him. It will probably be fascinating to see the place he finally ends up.
COULD BRADY UNRETIRE AGAIN?
Let’s join the dots right here: Tom Brady has agreed with Raiders proprietor Mark Davis to grow to be a minority stakeholder/proprietor within the workforce.
Brady, 45, practically performed for Las Vegas in 2020. UFC president Dana White mentioned he practically recruited Brady and Rob Gronkowski till Jon Gruden blew up the deal within the eleventh hour. Now the workforce is coached by Brady’s longtime Patriots offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels.
Then we be taught that beginning Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo had foot surgical procedure after he signed as a free agent this offseason and certain received’t apply till coaching camp, at the very least. The QBs behind Jimmy G on the depth chart are Brian Hoyer and fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell (Purdue).
NFL homeowners handed a rule this week to permit groups to make a 3rd emergency QB from its 53-player lively/inactive record eligible to be activated throughout video games if the 2 lively QBs get harm.
Brady has unretired as soon as already. And in April, he didn’t reply “no” when requested in Miami if there was an opportunity he’d come out of retirement and play for the Dolphins. Brady additionally famous “I’m not affiliated with any team anymore.” But now he’s affiliated — with the Raiders.
NFL guidelines require a vote of all 32 groups to permit anybody to play within the league whereas holding a monetary curiosity in a membership, based on ESPN. So a Brady try at a second comeback in Sin City might cease proper there.
But give it some thought: would the Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers mechanically vote towards Brady enjoying soccer as a result of he’d make the Raiders a extra formidable AFC West menace? Maybe.
And but, have we seen homeowners unanimously approve one thing just because it’s going to make the league extra money? Absolutely.
No one is predicting a Brady comeback. It’s potential he doesn’t wish to play for McDaniels once more anyway. But with all of these dots connecting, wouldn’t it actually shock you if Brady tried it?
PATRIOTS DOCKED TWO OTAs
The NFL stripped the Patriots of two OTA practices and fined Belichick $50,000 this week for a guidelines violation reported in a gamers’ union formal grievance. The violation was attributable to scheduling that resulted in gamers spending greater than their allotted time (4 hours day by day) on the workforce facility, sources confirmed. Can’t have gamers doing an excessive amount of in May, now. Have to relaxation them up for his or her 17-game schedule and flexed Thursday night time video games in December.
THEY SAID IT
“My thing is, where does it stop? You don’t want to take too many pieces away or you’re going to be playing flag football.” — Chiefs coach Andy Reid in response to the brand new kickoff rule that brings all truthful catches behind the 25-yard line out to the 25
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Source: www.bostonherald.com