Texans Rumors: DeAndre Hopkins Interested in Houston Return?

After being released by the Arizona Cardinals, could DeAndre Hopkins return to the Houston Texans?

Could DeAndre Hopkins return to the Houston Texans? A new report suggests that the recently-released wideout is pondering the idea, at the very least. 

According to Brooks Kubena of The Houston Chronicle, the Texans are one of the teams that Hopkins is interested in signing with, just days after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals. It's unknown whether that interest is reciprocated by general manager Nick Caserio and new head coach DeMeco Ryans. 

On one hand, the Texans are a young team trying to establish a new culture under Ryans, so the timing may not be right on reuniting with a franchise icon who understandably would be a commanding presence in the locker room. 

On the other, wide receivers Nico Collins and Robert Woods, along with tight end Dalton Schultz, are the most established pass catchers that Houston currently employs. Even if Hopkins is no longer a top-five wide receiver, the three-time All-Pro would immediately be the best option for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud to throw to. 

What's possible here is that Hopkins -- who now is represented by Kelton Crenshaw of Klutch Sports -- is trying to drum up additional interest, to put pressure on contenders like the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs to operate with more urgency in negotiations. 

At the same time, Hopkins may realize that teams like the Bills and Chiefs will force him to take less money than he's interested in playing for, leaving him to look for other options. And if he's not going to join a Super Bowl contender, it's natural for him in a post-Bill O'Brien era to consider the possibility of a return to Houston. (The Texans currently have $16.8 million in cap space, per Over The Cap.)

A first-round pick in 2013, Hopkins caught 632 passes for 8,602 yards and 54 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Texans. Hopkins is probably already the third-best player in the young franchise's history, trailing only Andre Johnson and J.J. Watt. With another few seasons in Houston, Hopkins could cement himself in franchise lore. 

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