BREAKING: Cardinals Cut DeAndre Hopkins; Falcons Sign?

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is looking for a new team. Could the Atlanta Falcons sign him?

Jeremy Brener | May 26, 2023

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Atlanta Falcons

The NFL is in a frenzy after the Arizona Cardinals cut former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

After a dominant 2020 season where he posted 1,407 yards, Hopkins only has 1,289 in the last two seasons combined. Granted, he only played in 10 games in 2021 and was limited to nine in 2022 due to suspension and injury.

The Cardinals were fielding trade calls for Hopkins, but ultimately felt releasing him was the way to go.

Now, teams like the Atlanta Falcons can sign him to a new deal.

While Hopkins hasn't openly shown a desire to sign with the Falcons, Atlanta is in need of a wide receiver to pair with Drake London.

The team added Mack Hollins, Scotty Miller and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside earlier this offseason, but that won't be enough to elevate the unit.

So why not go for the gold and get the best receiver in free agency?

NFL insider Benjamin Allbright reported earlier this offseason that the Falcons could have interest in a potential trade, but with a deal no longer on the table, could Atlanta simply sign him?

Hopkins has stated his desire to compete for a championship, and even though the Falcons don't come to mind as the first team to become a contender, the shoe still fits. Calais Campbell said the same thing in his free agency sweepstakes earlier this offseason and chose the Falcons over the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.

Should he come to Atlanta, Hopkins can still be a No. 1 wide receiver in an offense and be a huge part of the unit. He would divert attention away from the likes of Drake London, Hollins, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith in the Falcons passing game.

Put all of that together and Hopkins could be the "Nuk" that sends the Falcons into contention.

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Published May 26, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.