Are Cowboys Signing Free Agent WR DeAndre Hopkins? 3 Opinions

DeAndre Hopkins has been cut by the Arizona Cardinals and now the race for his signature begins with the Dallas Cowboys reportedly in the mix for his services.

The Dallas Cowboys needed offensive help this offseason and acquired Brandin Cooks via trade with the Houston Texans. And maybe that’s enough. 

But now with DeAndre Hopkins being cut by the Cardinals, naturally, Dallas' name has come up in conversations regarding the All-Pro's potential landing spots. And we’ve collected three opinions on the possibility of a connection. ….

OPINION 1: ‘BEST FIT’ - Nick Shook from NFL.com has released a list of seven teams deemed to be "best fits" for now free agent Hopkins with the Cowboys on the list.

"Jerry Jones is going to kick the tires on any notable skill-position player available," Shook writes. "It's just a fact.”

OPINION 2: ‘DEFINITELY!” - This comes via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, complete with the muscular word “definitely.” But “definitely” what, exactly?

DALLAS and DeANDRE?#DallasCowboys 'Definitely an Option' for #DeAndreHopkins Signing - Report https://t.co/3lOW2hNbNz via @DallasCowboysFN

— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) May 28, 2023

The “definitely an option'' thing as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram does not - either strangely or cleverly - explain for whom it’s an option! 

OPINION 3: FISH GUTS - Boasting a receiver room with CeeDee Lamb, Cooks, and Michael Gallup as the "big three," could the Cowboys realistically make a play for Hopkins? We know the Cowboys “can.” We also believe that if the Cowboys are in a true "push all the chips into the middle of the table" mode, then chasing Hopkins should be on their to-do list.

So why - as the flexibility available means Dallas does have the cap room to make it work - does our own Mike Fisher sort of shoot down the likelihood here? See Fish’s video below …

“My gut tells me that Dallas does not view Hopkins as ‘the player’ worthy of getting a new $20 million APY contract that would also mean upsetting thd future ‘salary-cap apple cart.”

Here’s Fish on the “definitely” story: “Is the local newspaper hinting that Dallas thinks about Hopkins as an “option”? Or is the local newspaper hinting that Hopkins thinks this about Dallas? Is the vague confusion a result of somebody being “sly”? Or “sloppy”?

Here’s Fish on the “it’s a fact” angle: “No, NFL.com, it is not a “fact” that Jerry deeply explores acquiring every flashy player. In fact, we believe that before Hopkins was cut, Dallas never even called the Cardinals about a trade. “Splashy Jerry” is a concept that largely faded over a decade ago.”

Fish, by the way, doesn’t agree with Dallas’ position here. But he does explain it. The Cowboys have a mapped-out plan to contractually retain Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs - and he says the Cowboys will be reluctant to break up that plan because of the future cap pain it will call.

One Cowboys idea. Three Cowboys opinions. How valued in the NFL arms race is DeAndre Hopkins? This team and this league is about to inform us.

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