The Cleveland Browns are among the teams set to enter the race for DeAndre Hopkins after the star wide receiver was cut loose by the Arizona Cardinals.
Hopkins, who turns 31 next week, hit the open market on Friday after his wish to leave the lowly Cardinals was granted, giving him his pick of the NFL as he goes in pursuit of glory in the final year of his prime having spent the vast majority of his career on struggling teams in Arizona and the Houston Texans.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills are among the top contenders to secure his services as the arms race in the AFC continues, while the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys are also in the conversation. According to ESPN, the Browns are another team to keep an eye on.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson struggled in his first season with the team, featuring in the final six games of the campaign after being suspended by the NFL amid sexual harassment claims. The acquisition of his close friend and former pass-catcher Hopkins could be the boost he needs as Cleveland aims to make the leap into championship contention.
The New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons are also in the running, with Hopkins' frosty relationship with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien – the former Texans head coach who traded Hopkins to the Cardinals – seemingly ruling out a move to Foxborough.
Yet while teams across the league pursue its premiere free agent, the Cardinals seem happily rid of the soon-to-be 31-year-old, who declared his desire to play elsewhere on the I Am Athlete podcast last week, which sparked the timing of his release.
While Hopkins' departure significantly weakens an already undermanned roster, beat reporter Kyle Odegard claims the receiver upset the franchise by sitting out the final two games of the 2022 season. Hopkins was on the injury report at the time for a knee issue that had "flared up" in practice, forcing him to miss the Week 17 and Week 18 games as a miserable season for the team culminated in a 4-13 record.
However, it is claimed Hopkins was healthy and chose to sit out in a show of intent as he pursued his exit from Arizona, and a "sticky situation" could have developed if he remained on the roster for the start of the regular season in September with the trade deadline looming.
The Cardinals were eager to trade Hopkins this off-season, but they were unable to find a suitor willing to part with draft picks and take on his $19.45million (£15.8m) salary. By cutting him, they swallow a dead cap hit in excess of $20m this season, but he is off the books thereafter as the team embarks on a huge rebuild.
