DeAndre Hopkins Trade for Bills Looming Large in Draft? 'Real Soon!'

The interest between Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins and the Buffalo Bills remains mutual. Could a trade happen on Thursday when the 2023 NFL Draft kicks off?

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday, meaning the opportunity for some major roster shakeup is within reach for all 32 teams. Rumors are as hot as ever, particularly as it pertains to the Buffalo Bills.

But it might be hard to call their connection with Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins a rumor at all. Considering the way Bills linebacker Von Miller talks openly about Hopkins' own desire to join Buffalo, the mutual interest could be considered known fact at this point.

Still, until a trade is official, there remains room for rumor talk on if a deal with be completed Thursday. Former NFL cornerback Pacman Jones is the latest to deliver the hot gossip, as he said Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show that his "sources" say that Hopkins will be traded sometime this week.

"He will be ... My sources say so," Jones said. "Real soon. Strong, strong possibility. Like this week, Thursday."

Of course, this doesn't mean a trade to Buffalo is imminent. Other AFC teams like the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs are teams to potentially watch as well.

Additionally, despite Jones' experience in the NFL, it's best to take his word with a grain of salt. If there was a time for Hopkins to be traded, it would likely need to be this week. The Cardinals would certainly love to get back some 2023 draft picks in return for their star receiver, but they're running out of time to do so.

All this makes Jones' "report" one to take note of, but not run off with since he could be just be making a simple prediction that appears to have a likelihood of happening. Maybe Jones has heard some significant rumblings, but it remains to be seen how everything will go down.

As for Hopkins and the Bills, the interest remains mutual. Miller is ramping up the hype ahead of draft night, though he knows that the potential trade result is out of his control.

"He knows we want him here and we know he wants to be a Buffalo Bill," Miller said Tuesday on CBS Sports. "There's so many things that go into really making those things happen, but I feel like we're in a good position to get it done."

This is just of many times over the past week or so that Miller has publicly acknowledged the Hopkins trade talk. Now, the aspiring NFL general manager will stand in the corner of the Bills war room on Thursday to see if he and Buffalo can land the star receiver.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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