DeAndre Hopkins Next Team Odds: Where Will Nuk Get Dropped Next?

After a tumultuous 2022 season for both the Arizona Cardinals and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a potential divorce looms between a team in transition and its All-Pro wideout, ahead of Hopkins' age-31 season.

With an All-NBA-caliber ability to high point the ball, and hands so big they'd make Kawhi Leonard buy a Ford F-350 Super Duty to compensate upon comparison, Hopkins' game should age brilliantly. However, suitors may be limited in the trade market after consecutive years of a nagging hamstring injury and then a suspension.

That reality, among other factors, is why the Cards themselves remain among the NFL odds favorites for Hopkins' services in 2023. We've got the full odds for DeAndre Hopkins' 2023 team, and a look at some of the favorites to land him, below. 

DeAndre Hopkins' 2023 team odds

Team	Odds
New England Patriots	+350
Kansas City Chiefs	+450
Arizona Cardinals	+500
Green Bay Packers	+750
Baltimore Ravens	+900
Chicago Bears	+1,000
New York Giants	+1,200
Cleveland Browns	+1,500
Dallas Cowboys	+1,500
L.A. Chargers	+1,500
Jacksonville Jaguars	+1,500

Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of February 1, 2023.

DeAndre Hopkins' situation at a glance

Who could forget DeAndre Hopkins' arrival in Arizona, which was the apex of the Bill O'Brien-Jack Easterby galaxy-brain saga in Houston? After an age-27 season that saw him named first-team All-Pro for a third straight year, the Texans' brain trust dealt Hopkins for what amounted to, basically, an in-decline tailback in David Johnson and a second-round pick. Oof. 

Three up-and-down seasons in the desert later, and it's now Arizona that could be looking to move Nuk. Unlike in Houston three years ago, however, there's plenty of logic to this potential move.

The Cards appear headed toward, at best, an organizational refresh with Monti Ossenfort hired to replace long-time GM Steve Keim, and a head coaching search ongoing. This refresh was, at least in part, made more logical due to Kyler Murray's torn ACL, which will likely delay the start of his 2023 season.  

With 2023 looking like a transitional year for the Cardinals, and soon-to-be 31-year-old Hopkins set to count for $30.75 million against the cap, a third landing spot in Hopkins' career looks likely. 

Favorites to acquire DeAndre Hopkins

New England Patriots (+350)

After a grueling 2022 made possible by one of the most pathetic, incomprehensible offensive infrastructures in recent memory, New England looks to hit the reset on its offense in '23.

It's already achieved one major step, bringing back Bill O'Brien to run the offense in what's a very strong move. Next is filling out the talent around Mac Jones. Hopkins would certainly help a talent-poor receiver group and give Jones a reliable possession receiver. 

One thing worth noting, in relation to New England's pursuit: Hopkins holds a no-trade clause and a refusal to go to New England, where former Texans czar O'Brien is running the offense and Bill Belichick's credit is waning, would appear likely from the outside. 

Kansas City Chiefs (+450)

While we can question whether or not Hopkins would want to land in New England, there's surely less doubt around this landing spot. Playing under Andy Reid and with Patrick Mahomes is a receiver's dream, and Hopkins would be no exception.

The presence of Nuk, along with Travis Kelce, underneath would no doubt be a boon for KC's offense and help to open up a vertical game that lessened after Tyreek Hill's departure.

Though there are no questions on the player's end here, it is worth wondering if the Chiefs would be interested in dealing anything of value to take on the remaining years and money in Hopkins' deal. With Kelce continuing to defy age and Kadarius Toney to have a full offseason to ramp up, Kansas City could be content to again scour the bargain bin in free agency to fill out the offense.   

Arizona Cardinals (+500)

It's difficult to envision a scenario in which Hopkins is a member of the Cardinals in '23 but it's not impossible, hence their place in the Top 3. From a team-building perspective, there's no sense in retaining Nuk. From a financial perspective, however, Arizona's new regime may have its hands tied.

There aren't huge savings to be had on Arizona's end moving on from Hopkins. Of the roughly $56 million owed over the remaining two years of the deal, the Cards are in line to save about $23 million if a trade or release happens prior to June 1 or just under $35 million if it's post-June 1.

In a vacuum, it makes perfect sense to swallow that dead money and move on. In reality, however, after a relatively modest owner in Michael Bidwell had to swallow the financial hit of firing Keim and Kliff Kingsbury, both of whom had been extended through 2027 (head coach/GM deals are fully guaranteed), he may force a new regime's hand in keeping a want-away wideout.  

Green Bay Packers (+750)

A bona fide No. 1 receiver such as Davante Adams is unlikely to be available, so the Packers may have to look elsewhere in their bid to upgrade their receiver room.

This is, surely, contingent on Aaron Rodgers' status for 2023. Should he return to Green Bay, then we can expect the Packers to pursue a veteran wideout. Hopkins would be a great fit as an elite ball-winner, paired with a quarterback in Rodgers who has never hesitated to give his go-to wideouts a chance with contested balls. 

Green Bay has some creative cap maneuvering to do ahead of '23 and that's only in relation to its own roster. If it were to bring in Hopkins via trade, further financial gymnastics would prove difficult. 

Baltimore Ravens (+900)

The 2022 Ravens wide receiver corps was so talent-poor they looked at the 2014 Chiefs as if they were the '92 U.S. Dream Team. With an injury to Rashod Bateman derailing his expected breakout, and another injury to Lamar Jackson sabotaging the offense entirely, Baltimore's offense hit a new low.

Regardless of who's under center in 2023, be it Jackson or noted Pro-Bowler Snoop Huntley, the Ravens must add talent on offense. This is a ready-to-compete franchise and the uncertainty at quarterback isn't going to change that reality.

Few teams in recent history acquire veterans for low cost and extract great value out of them at the tail end of their carer like the Ravens. Is Nuk next in that line?

Pages related to this topic