The race is on to sign star free agent DeAndre Hopkins after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals last week, but Aaron Rodgers' New York Jets have ruled themselves out of the running to pursue the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Hopkins, who turns 31 this week, was cut loose by the Cardinals on May 26, granting him his wish to join a franchise in Super Bowl contention with a grim season likely ahead for Arizona due to their paper-thin roster and quarterback Kyler Murray's anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The former Houston Texans star's appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast last week seemingly sparked the Cardinals' decision to release one of their biggest assets. The team had been searching for a trade partner to recoup some draft capital for Hopkins but failed to find one.
And when Hopkins declared his desire to play for a contending team as he enters the last years of his prime, naming the top quarterbacks he would like to play with in 2024 and beyond, the Cardinals moved quickly to complete his departure, sending the three-time All-Pro to the open market.
Reigning Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs and perennial contenders the Buffalo Bills are among the favourites to secure Hopkins' services, but one possible destination that has been taken off the table is the Jets.
"No, we love our current group," head coach Robert Saleh replied when asked at a press conference on Wednesday if his team was interested in signing Hopkins. "I know there was some stuff with Odell (Beckham Jr), but other than that, we love our group."
The Jets were interested in signing Beckham before he joined the Baltimore Ravens in April, although it has already been a busy off-season for "Gang Green", signing receivers Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman as well as the blockbuster trade with Green Bay Packers for four-time MVP quarterback Rodgers.
Saleh's response follows lukewarm comments from Tennesse Titans head coach Mike Vrabel when asked if his team would enter the running to sign Hopkins, a player he worked with during his time as an assistant coach with the Texans.
“I think our focus has always been about the players who we have here," Vrabel said at his press conference on Wednesday. "We’ll keep you updated as we continue to add players to the roster."
Hopkins led the Cardinals with 717 receiving yards, despite missing the first six games of the season due to a performance-enhancing drugs suspension.
Injuries have become an increasing concern for Hopkins in the past couple of teams, causing interest from teams since he became a free agent to be "tepid", according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
The fact Hopkins will also command a significant salary – he was due in the region of $20million for the 2023 season before he was released – is perhaps causing interested parties to approach a deal with caution, but it remains highly likely that he will find himself on the roster of a team with genuine Super Bowl ambitions when Week One comes around.
