NFL Trade Rumors: DeAndre Hopkins' salary huge problem for Chiefs, Patriots to consider

That DeAndre Hopkins is the best option on the trade block speaks volumes about the wide receiver market for the 2023 NFL offseason.

Last year, trades for Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, and Davante Adams raised the ceiling for a top-tier wideout’s salary. Fast forward to this year, and the market isn’t as exciting.

However, some teams will be in contact with the five-time All-Pro after the Carolina Panthers granted permission for trade talks. Given their depleted receiving corps, the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots should be interested.

After winning their second Super Bowl title in four seasons, the Chiefs lost Mecole Hardman to the New York Jets and JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Patriots. Their projected starters at wide receiver are Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Skyy Moore.

While talented, they don’t strike fear at opposing defensive backs. Travis Kelce remains the star of their passing game, but he will need help on the outside.

Meanwhile, the Patriots need more explosiveness even after getting Smith-Schuster. Jakobi Meyers signed a three-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Devante Parker and Kendrick Bourne have forgettable 2022 campaigns. As a result, the Patriots had the sixth-worst rate of receiving touchdowns (19) and ranked 20th in passing yards per game (208).

Hopkins can come in and help both teams because of his play-making ability. He once led the league in receiving touchdowns and had 1,407 yards for the Cardinals in 2020. Unfortunately, his salary is the biggest concern for both Kansas City and New England.

The Clemson alumni has a $30.7 million cap hit for the 2023 NFL season. That number includes a $19.4 million base salary, a $5.5 million signing bonus, a $2.25 million option bonus, and a $3.5 million contract restructure. If that amount alone is a little over seven percent of this year’s $224.8 million salary cap, he will also count for $26.2 million against the cap in 2024.

The Chiefs need more room for that amount. After factoring in the Top 51 contracts, their cap space is only $5.5 million.

Meanwhile, the Patriots have a bigger $11 million cap space. But it’s still barely half of Hopkins’ 2023 cap count. Both teams must shed contracts to accommodate the five-time Pro Bowler. The question is whether they will cut more players to bring one in.

DeAndre Hopkins doesn’t have trade leverage

DeAndre Hopkins - Arizona Cardinals v Minnesota Vikings

DeAndre Hopkins was still productive despite missing the first six games of 2022 for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

He finished with 717 yards and three touchdowns in his 10th NFL season. But the misdemeanor could be a red flag for established head coaches like Andy Reid and Bill Belichick. Likewise, health concerns can also work against him.

He missed seven games in 2021 due to a hamstring injury and a torn MCL. Hopkins finished the season with 572 yards and eight touchdowns. Turning 31 in three months, his age is also a factor because teams will opt to find the same production level from younger and inexpensive receivers.

These considerations lessen the chances of a split between DeAndre Hopkins and the Cardinals.

Both the player and the team must make sacrifices to increase their chances of a trade. They must settle for less than their asking price of a second-round pick and an asset, as SI.com’s Albert Breer initially reported.

The Cardinals should also absorb a sizeable portion of DeAndre Hopkins’ 2023 cap hit to entice more negotiations. Finally, Hopkins must demonstrate that he is a team player that won’t ruffle feathers.