BREAKING: Cardinals Release Star Receiver

The Arizona Cardinals may have just shocked the NFL world as they have decided to release their star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins after three seasons, the team announced on Friday. 

We have released Deandre Hopkins. pic.twitter.com/POnAb3uhWH

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) May 26, 2023

Hopkins, who was owed $19.45 million in salary for the 2023 season, was the center of trade speculation since the conclusion of the NFL season in February, and with the start of OTA offseason workouts it seems the Cardinals wanted to make a decision on their No. 1 receiver sooner rather than later. 

Arizona had in-depth trade talks with multiple teams throughout the 2023 offseason, but his pending salary seemed to be an impediment for teams to work out a deal. The Cardinals will now take the entire $22.6 million dead cap charge for the 2023 season, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, and Hopkins is allowed to sign with any team for a new contract immediately. 

This is not a post-June 1 designation. Arizona takes the entire $22.6M dead cap hit this season. https://t.co/8Qdxy9127K

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 26, 2023

It is currently unclear where the free agent 30-year-old receiver will land, but he did however release his list of top five quarterbacks he would want to play for on his recent appearance on the "I am Athlete" podcast. The list included: the Bills' Josh Allen, the Eagles' Jalen Hurts, the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, the Ravens' Lamar Jackson, and the Chargers' Justin Herbert. 

Photo Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports