The Arizona Cardinals announced on Friday that they had released standout wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, making him free to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs or any other team.
This comes after months of trade speculation, with Hopkins rumored to be available in trade leading up to and during the 2023 NFL draft. Ultimately, his contract appears to have been prohibitive in Arizona finding an adequate trade partner. If Hopkins is released outright, the Cardinals will eat $22 million in cap space in 2023. If he’s a post-June 1 cut, they can spread that dead money out. Keep in mind, the release will not become official until 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, so Arizona still has a chance to find a trade partner in the eleventh hour.
