When the Arizona Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins last week, NY Giants fans didn't waste a second in going to Twitter to beg general manager Joe Schoen to make a move. There was hope that Hopkins would be traded to the G-Men during the draft, but that didn't happen.
Now, though, Hopkins is free to sign with anyone he wants and the former All-Pro wideout has been linked with Big Blue on multiple occasions. Would head coach Brian Daboll be open for his offense to add the playmaker? Daboll was asked about it at OTAs on Wednesday and while he didn't flat out say he wants NY to sign him, he definitely left the door open:
Asked Brian Daboll about potentially adding free agent WR DeAndre Hopkins. Didn’t completely shoot it down. Said GM Joe Schoen and his staff will “look into it, research it,” just like they do anytime there is a player available. #giants #nfl #DHop
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) May 31, 2023
The NY Giants have interest in signing DeAndre Hopkins
So, you're saying there's a chance, Coach Dabes? For a while, the Buffalo Bills have been listed as the favorites to land Hopkins, as the wideout is a big fan of Josh Allen. However, teams like the Giants, Ravens, Patriots, Chiefs, Eagles and others have been mentioned as possible landing spots as well.
After posting at least 1,165 yards from 2017-20, including three All-Pro seasons, Hopkins hasn't topped 717 yards in the past two years. Injuries and a suspension got in the way of him showcasing his talent in 2021 and 2022, but he's hoping to bounce back in a big way in '23.
He'll be doing so with a different team, as his time in the NFC West just came to a close after only three seasons with Arizona. Hopkins' best football may be behind him, but he can still be a WR1 for his next squad - something the Giants are still missing.
While the G-Men have added Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt and Parris Campbell to the aerial attack, a true superstar WR is needed for Daniel Jones. Signing Hopkins would be the cherry on top for what's been an amazing offseason. Daboll saying Schoen and the front office will look into it and research it shows that the interest is there. Will it lead to a signing? We sure hope so.
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