Deandre Hopkins could be the final chess piece the Lions need to be true Super Bowl contenders.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has already received much praise for the off-season reconstruction of his team. The secondary, which struggled mightily in 2022, has a completely new look, adding the likes of Cam Sutton, CJ Gardner Johnson, and Emanuel Moseley, all on team-friendly deals. The revamped defense, paired with a top-five NFL offense in 2022, has the Lions as favorites to win the NFC North at this point in the off-season, not to mention the two first-round picks Detroit has in store for the NFL draft.
Even more impressive, Holmes still has $25 million in cap space to work with after reconstructing the contracts of Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Romeo Okwara, and Charles Harris.
Of the 32 organizations across the league, it’s hard to point to many teams that had a better free agency period than the Lions. After going 9-8 in 2022 and ending the season 8-2, the organization is in a prime position to compete in the NFC. However, there’s a sense Detroit is still one big move away from being a true Super Bowl contender. Fortunately for Lions fans, the team has enough draft capital and cap space to lean into their strength and acquire another superstar on offense.
Replacing DJ Chark
Former Lions WR DJ Chark Jr. – Paul Sancya/AP
The Lions lost their X receiver (big, physical, vertical threat type player) when DJ Chark signed with Carolina for a one-year deal worth $5 million. Detroit had plenty of money to spend but, instead, let their guy walk out the door without a replacement on the roster. Chark played in 11 games for Detroit in 2022, racking in 30 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns. The production isn’t jaw-dropping; however, his value speaks for itself.
In his absence, weeks 4-10, the Lions went just 2-4, only eclipsing 250 passing yards twice. Chark proved to be extremely valuable in stretching the field and opening up intermediate and short routes for Amon-Ra St. Brown to thrive. He was also an excellent downfield blocker, contributing to breakaway runs by D’andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. It goes without saying there’s a role to fill in the wide receiver room, and Holmes wouldn’t let a player of such importance walk out the door without having the plan to replace him, whether in the draft or trading for a proven veteran.
Deandre Hopkins
Arizona is entering a new era of its franchise. New coach, new GM, new regime. In the process of hitting the reset button, step number one is almost always to offload big contracts handed out by the previous regime, especially when those contracts belong to aging players. Simultaneously, Hopkins, a future Hall-of-Famer who’s never competed in a conference championship, has openly stated he would like a new place to call home next season where he can compete for a Super Bowl championship.
Although Hopkins is on the North side of 30, in his nine games played last season, he was no short of the ‘Nuke’ Hopkins we’ve grown to know and love the past decade. The five-time Pro Bowler averaged 79.6 yards per game last season, the tenth-best mark in the league. Hopkins also averaged 7.1 catches per game last season, which ranked fourth in the NFL. Both stats would have led the Detroit Lions in 2022. Bottom line, he’s still got it.
Price of Acquisition and Contract
It’s easy to point to the massive hall both the Dolphins and Raiders had to give up last season to obtain Tyreek Hill and Davonte Adams as comparisons for what Hopkins’s worth would be in a potential trade. However, multiple variables will impact his true value.
Firstly, Hopkins is older than both Hill and Adams were at the time of their trades.
Secondly, the Cardinals are in no position to ask for a massive return. Hopkins wants out, and the Cardinals want to clear cap and get off his contract. This is no secret, and since the cat’s out of the bag, the Cardinals have no leverage. No team is going to overpay for Hopkins. If the Cardinals can’t find a suitor to take him at their asking price, they’ll be forced to accept less of a return. Otherwise, they’re stuck with Hopkins, and Hopkins is stuck with them.
Considering Calvin Ridley (28), who was suspended at the time, was traded for a conditional fourth and fifth, a third-round pick would be plenty to land the former Clemson Tiger. Considering the Lions have eight picks in this year’s draft, it’s a bargain Detroit just might be willing to make.
Hopkins has two years left on his current contract, set to make $19.4 million in 2023 and $14.9 million in 2024. Regardless of the team he is traded to, signing a new contract and/or extension will be his priority.
Hopkins, St. Brown, and Williams
Detroit Lions WRs Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown – AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Adding Hopkins to a wide receiver room with two rising superstars would arguably make this the best trio in the league, both individually and schematically. Each wide receiver specializes in different aspects of the game; therefore, adding Hopkins would not minimize the talent of Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams.
Hopkins – Deep/Intermediate Threat. Downfield, across the field, physical, go-up-and-get-it type receiver.
Type of Routes: Streaks, Fades, Posts, Corners, Comebacks
St. Brown – Short/Intermediate/Backfield Threat. Slot, route technician type receiver.
Types of Routes: Outs, Ins, Slants, Screens, Arrows, Zigs, Hitches
Jameson Williams – Speed Threat. Freak-speed, unseen potential type receiver.
Type of Routes: Streaks, Crossers, Screens
The three receivers compliment each other, each drawing the attention they deserve, allowing each other to work one-on-one with their defender without being double-teamed. Production-wise, adding Hopkins would likely take a hit to St. Brown’s numbers. However, the goal in Detroit is to win, not be WR1. Hopkins would, undoubtedly, help the Lions get one step closer to winning their first Super Bowl.
