Deandre Hopkins free agency leaves NFL executives split on what the ex-Cardinal has left in tank 

Three-time NFL All-Pro wide receiver Deandre Hopkins hired a new agent in the middle of his free agency, but the NFL teams don’t seem to know how much influence Hopkins can have going forward.

Well-known NFL reporter Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated recently opened up about conversations he had with several league executives that revealed the mixed feelings surrounding the league for the soon-to-be 31-year-old.

‘Not much. He can’t run anymore,” a manager reportedly told Breer via text message.

However, another manager expressed a very different feeling, saying: ‘He is still a good player. Good route runner, big, physical target that can play a ball in the air. He’s still a threat.’

A third executive, Breer revealed. who worked for an AFC team expressed much more detailed thoughts about Hopkins falling in the middle of being pro or anti-Hopkins.

Hopkins recently signed with Klutch Sports Group to represent him during his free agency

“Still great hands, he’s not going to get divorced, not really a deep threat, but very strong, making contested catches as good as anyone in the NFL,” the exec said.

Doesn’t like to exercise – can’t imagine that will get any better. And if things don’t go well, you’ll always be suspicious. Okay, what drama are we getting from this guy? When things are great, he’s great. When things go south his true colors show a bit.

“But he always shows up on match day. He will have to go to a team that knows what they are getting. You can’t expect a perfectly present type of worker.’

During his final season with Arizona, Hopkins recorded 717 yards, 64 receptions and 3 touchdowns after appearing in only nine games, largely due to a suspension after testing positive for PEDs.

And in his career, Hopkins has been named to five Pro Bowls and has recorded 1,000 or more receiving yards in six seasons.

Hopkins reportedly had talks with the Buffalo Bills and Chiefs, but his reported lack of a $15 million base salary in the model of the contract the Baltimore Ravens offered Odell Beckham Jr. giving – despite missing all of last season – could be a deterrent. .

Sports Illustrated claimed that the award became a hurdle in its talks with the Chiefs, who eventually gave the allotted money to Hopkins to tackle Donovan Smith on the left, which is sure to make negotiations difficult if they try again.

Von Miller believes there is a chance the team can make a move for DeAndre Hopkins

DeShaun Watson and Hopkins are former Texan teammates and Clemson alumni

Hopkins was also in talks with the Kansas City Chiefs, but contract negotiations fell through

Buffalo would also prefer to pay Hopkins and incentive-laden contacts a lower base salary.

He has missed 15 of 34 games over the past two years after appearing in 126 of 128 games in his first eight seasons.

Bills pass rusher Von Miller has been very vocal in trying to recruit Hopkins to Buffalo this off-season, while Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson has also recently tried to rejoin Hopkins.

“I’ll just say this, D-Hop, DeAndre Hopkins would love to be in a place where we have a chance to win,” said Watson.

“We’re ticking all those boxes and I think for us to know and make sure we tick all those boxes on the National podium, we have to go out there and prove it and I think D-Hop is happy to be part of it would make up. That.”