DHop: Hurts High On QB Wish List

If he stays in the NFC, DeAndre Hopkins would most like to catch passes from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts more than any other conference quarterback, including Dak Prescott.

The three-time All-Pro wideout, who’s poised to be traded away from the rebuilding Cardinals before the season, listed Hurts as the No. 2 quarterback he’d like to play alongside during an appearance on a recent “I Am Athlete” podcast with former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Hopkins was asked for the top-five quarterbacks on his wish list and named Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as his top option, with Hurts right behind.

Deandre Hopkins on his TOP 5 Quarterbacks he wants the ball thrown to him from 👀⬇️

1) @JoshAllenQB
2) @JalenHurts
3) @PatrickMahomes
4) @Lj_era8
5) #JustinHerbert pic.twitter.com/JZKTf2x0Wy

— I AM ATHLETE (@IAMATHLETEpod) May 22, 2023

Hopkins called Allen a “new school Andrew Luck.” As for Hurts, the former Texans wideout took delight in Hurts being “a Houston kid.” Hopkins was asked about Prescott, but didn’t warm to the idea.

Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert rounded out Hopkins’ preferences.

GETTY IMAGES: DeAndre Hopkins would love to play with Jalen Hurts, but his contract makes a trade to Eagles iffy.

How likely is a Hopkins-to-Eagles trade?

It’s much more likely that Hopkins is dealt to another than to the Eagles, who already have two top-flight starting receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

The Eagles surrendered a first-round pick in 2022 for Brown, who posted a career-best 1,496 receiving yards last year to go along with 11 touchdowns. Smith, a 2021 first-round pick at 10th overall, managed just under 1,200 yards in his second season.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Hopkins – a contested-catch master since being drafted in 2013 – is more suited for the outside than slot, although Brown and Smith each have the ability to move inside.

But it’s the contract that makes Hopkins, who turns 31 in June, more likely to land elsewhere than Philadelphia. He’s due a base salary of more than $19 million in 2023 and nearly $15 million in 2024, according to overthecap.com, although Hopkins is reportedly willing to restructure his deal to facilitate a trade.

#AZCardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins admitted on @PatMcAfeeShow that he’s “been hearing a lot of trade talks.” On that subject, my understanding is if a trade did happen, he’d be flexible on the last two years of his contract – rather than shoot for a top-of-the-market deal.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2023

Injuries and a suspension for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing drugs have limited Hopkins to just 19 games over the past two seasons.

He logged 1,407 yards and six touchdowns in 2020, his first season with the Cardinals after being traded from Houston, where he played his first seven seasons, making four Pro Bowls and five seasons of more than 1,150 receiving yards.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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