DeAndre Hopkins' representation could be major hurdle to deal with new NFL team
The Arizona Cardinals released star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Friday, and a litany of franchises are expected to bid for his services.
From the Kansas City Chiefs to the Buffalo Bills, with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers also speculated to have interest, Hopkins will have a robust market. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes the wide receiver’s representation will be a hurdle throughout the process.
Evidently, Hopkins has notorious agent Saint Omni “running the show” according to Florio, who miffed teams last year when he worked with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith on his contract.
“Although Hopkins said during an early March appearance with Pat McAfee that Hopkins has hired an agent for this next phase of his career, NFL Players Association records reveal that he is unrepresented,” wrote Florio. “Per multiple sources, the notorious Saint Omni is ‘running the show’ for Hopkins.
“At least one viable contender for Hopkins’s services is leery about dealing with Omni. And for good reason. Last year, the NFL specifically warned all teams not to deal with Omni or any other non-certified agent in connection with linebacker Roquan Smith.”
It’s Florio’s belief that many teams simply wouldn’t want to deal with Omni, which would take them out of the running for Hopkins’ services.
“Although Omni has managed to work in the shadows, or more conspicuously, on behalf of players like Smith and Texans tackle Laremy Tunsil, if a team that otherwise would be aggressively pursuing Hopkins opts to back away because it’s not comfortable dealing with Omni, that necessarily limits the player’s potential options,” added Florio.
Will there be NFL teams that look beyond Omni and pursue DeAndre Hopkins? Of course. He’s still one of the best wide receivers in the league. It just remains to be seen which franchises decide to take the risk.
More on DeAndre Hopkins, NFL Free Agency
DeAndre Hopkins, 30, has been with the Cardinals the past three seasons after arriving in a trade from the Houston Texans.
He has been named to five All-Pro teams. Hopkins was a first-team member each season from 2017-2019 and also earned a spot on the second team in 2015 and 2020.
Playing in only nine games last season in part due to a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, Hopkins finished the season with 64 catches for 717 yards and just three touchdowns.
He had played in only 10 games in 2021 due to multiple injuries. In the prior 16 seasons, Hopkins had averaged 15.7 games, 103.2 receptions, 1332.8 yards and 8.7 touchdowns per season.
The former Clemson Tigers star will be hoping for a more complete return to form in 2023, along with a lot more winning.