The Arizona Cardinals are in a whirlwind of an off-season. DeAndre Hopkins has been on the trade market for months. Despite interest from several teams, the Cardinals have been unable to offload him. Some believe their asking price is too high, while others don't believe that Hopkins' mixture of age and contract is doing the team any favors.
The Arizona Cardinals are shopping DeAndre Hopkins, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson says the team needs to acquire him before things can continue. Arizona still has possession of one of the top receivers in the league, and he could be teaming up with one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
Lamar Jackson's Contract With Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens is a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens also compete in the National Football League as an American Football Conference North division member club. The team plays its home games at M&T Bank Stadium, headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland.
According to NFL Insider Michael Lombardi, Lamar Jackson has told the Baltimore Ravens to acquire Odell Beckham Jr and DeAndre Hopkins before he continues negotiations with the team. Lamar told them in a conversation, "Get Hopkins and get Beckham, and then we can talk". The club went back to them and said, "Look, we can't get Hopkins and Beckham. We just can't afford both, but we'll get one of them, and they got Beckham", Lombardi said on his podcast.
Beckham recently received a one-year deal with the Ravens worth up to $18 million with $15 million guaranteed. Hopkins is reportedly willing to restructure his contract, which carries base salaries of $19.45 million and $14.91 million in the final two years of his deal.
Hopkins is available. He would be great with Lamar Jackson not because of his incredible speed but because he has exactly what Lamar needs. A person who if you throw the ball anywhere in his area, is going to catch it. He is covered, he is always covered.
The problem with DeAndre Hopkins is that he wants a raise, he wants more money and the Ravens did not think they could afford him and Beckham at the same time with Lamar on the team.
Sources close to Lamar Jackson revealed that he is frustrated with the team's lack of action in addressing the wide receiver position. The Ravens struggled in the passing game last season, with Lamar often relying on his legs to make plays. Hopefully, Hopkins will be a significant upgrade to the Ravens' receiving corps and could help take the team to the next level, as he is widely regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the league.
The Ravens have a talented roster, but the addition of Hopkins could be the missing piece they need to make a deep playoff run. If the team can acquire Hopkins, it could help smooth over the lingering tension between Lamar and the organization and pave the way for a long-term contract.