NFL Rumors: Free Agent Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins Willing to Be "Patient"

Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is willing to take his time as he searches for a new home. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the five-time Pro Bowler is "prepared to be patient" as he mulls offers this offseason.

Few notes on DeAndre Hopkins after asking around:

-Open-minded about teams league-wide. No short list I’m aware of

-Prepared to be patient: Minicamp could be considered a soft deadline, training camp a harder deadline.

-Taking free agent visits a possibility
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 1, 2023

The Cardinals made Hopkins a surprise release earlier this offseason after months of trade speculation. He was set to play out the final portion of a two-year, $54.5 million extension that would carry him through to 2024, and that contract simply wasn't palatable to rival teams.

Now an unrestricted free agent, Hopkins has a chance to sign a new deal, but he clearly has yet to find an offer to his liking. He's probably wise to play the waiting game. After sitting out an entire year, Odell Beckham Jr. eventually signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason. If Hopkins is willing to wait for the right opportunity to arise, perhaps because of an untimely injury, he could potentially land something similar.

Set to turn 31 years old before the beginning of the season, Hopkins has fallen off a bit from the peak of his powers, but he remains valuable when available: he averaged 67.8 receiving yards per game and 8.1 yards per target over 19 appearances from 2021 to 2022. However, availability has been an issue: he has missed 15 games over that same span due to injuries and a PED suspension.