Cowboys Reveal View on Signing DeAndre Hopkins: 'Hell of a Talent! - Coach Mike McCarthy

"Hop is a hell of a talent,'' says Cowboys coach McCarthy here at The Star before Thursday's OTAs workout, speaking about DeAndre Hopkins.

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have approached very carefully the notion of even talking about DeAndre Hopkins. But now that he's a free agent? Coach Mike McCarthy on Thursday offered up a reveal of sorts.

"Hop is a hell of a talent,'' said McCarthy here at The Star before Thursday's OTAs workout. 

But ... is there a "but''? McCarthy understandably would not go much beyond that evaluation of the star receiver, adding, "There’s nothing good that comes out of those answers.''

And then one more supplementary - but maybe key comment - from the coach: “I really like the look of our (receivers) group,'' McCarthy said.

We are not sure Dallas is really in the conversation for the All-Pro receiver, despite the word being that the Cowboys are "definitely an option'' ... at least in the mind of one of the two parties.

After the Cardinals cut Hopkins and decided to eat all his dead cap money, teams are free to have a genuine crack at landing Hopkins ... with Dallas named and favored as a possible destination.

But McCarthy maybe just stated Dallas' position: With a receiver room already brimming with talents such as CeeDee Lamb, Cooks, and Michael Gallup, some have wondered why Dallas should entertain the idea of adding another high-priced receiver.

We can reason in return that ... If the Cowboys are in "win-now" mode, and what better way to present that philosophy than to push all the chips into the middle of the table?

Of course, there are financial issues. Could Dallas could add Hopkins with new deals for Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, and Lamb all due soon? The blanket answer is "yes.'' Dak's new deal will actually create room. And with the others? The deals can still be done at the appropriate time ... with the understand that "kicking the can'' down the road might cap imbalance in the future.

Who would have a problem with how the Cowboys' salary cap looks in, say, 2027 if it means the 2023 edition of franchise wins its first Super Bowl since the early 90s?

There are several reasons why the Cowboys should go after Hopkins and fewer why they shouldn't. And yes, the "how much'' can be an obstacle. As we've said all along, Hopkins being a free agent and out of contract doesn't stop him from wanting $20 million APY. And maybe that's as big a part of the answer as McCarthy "liking the look'' of his existing guys.

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