On Friday, the Arizona Cardinals officially announced that they have decided to let go of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. This announcement signifies the conclusion of his three-season tenure with the team. The choice to part ways with Hopkins comes after a period of uncertainty regarding his future with the Cardinals, which emerged towards the end of the 2022 season.

As a result, despite DeAndre Hopkins’ expected $19 million salary for 2023, the Cardinals made the decision to part ways with him, leading to a substantial $22.6 million dead cap hit. Absorbing this considerable financial burden just to let go of their star WR leads one to believe that it was more than just his age and hefty contract.

What went wrong for DeAndre Hopkins?

According to reports, Hopkins made the Cardinals organization unhappy by choosing not to play the last two games of the 2022 season, even though he was physically fit. It’s crucial to know that he also didn’t play in the first six games because he violated the NFL’s rules regarding substance use. There were speculations circulating about the potentially delicate circumstances that would have arisen if he had remained on the team until the trade deadline.

While the precise motive behind Hopkins’ decision to sit out remains unclear, several reports indicate that he made a calculated business choice during a period when the Cardinals had slim playoff prospects. It is plausible that he aimed to mitigate the risk of further injury or safeguard his market value as a free agent. Nevertheless, this course of action provoked dissatisfaction among certain individuals within the Cardinals organization, who believed that he should have taken the field if he was physically capable.

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Consequently, Hopkins now enters the free agency market, granting him the opportunity to sign with any team of his choice. Which begs the question, why wasn’t he traded?

The Cardinals tried to trade Hopkins but couldn’t.

Adam Schefter, an ESPN analyst, revealed that the Cardinals had actively tried to trade DeAndre Hopkins but couldn’t find a team willing to take on his expensive contract. Hopkins also refused to change his contract terms to make trade easier. According to Schefter, Hopkins had a list of preferred teams and quarterbacks, including the Bills, Ravens, Chargers, Eagles, and Chiefs. However, each team had its own limitations, whether it was financial constraints or already having talented wide receivers.

While a deal could still happen if Hopkins adjusted his salary expectations or added performance-based incentives, finding the right fit based on finances seems challenging. Nevertheless, the Cardinals had a tough season. They only won 4 out of 17 games and because of that, they decided to let go of their coach, Kliff Kingsbury. The team also said goodbye to their General Manager, Steve Keim.

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