Getty Image / Christian Petersen
Big changes are coming for the Arizona Cardinals.
Yesterday, their general manager stepped down and they fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, there are still going to be plenty of other changes they’ll need to make to turn their franchise around after struggling to a 4-13 record this season.
They couldn’t block for Kyler Murray and their offense struggled as a result. Their defense was also pretty average.
Now they’ll likely be without Kyler Murray to start next season because of a knee injury and JJ Watt has decided to retire.
With all of that going on in this franchise, it looks like they’ll be doing some rebuilding during the 2023 season.
A new report suggests they have decided they plan to head into that rebuild without one of their stars. According to The Score’s Jordan Schultz, the Arizona Cardinals are planning to trade DeAndre Hopkins this offseason.
Sources: #AZCardinals plan to try and trade All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. DHop has 2 yrs and $34.36M left on his contract and is likely to seek a new deal. Owner Michael Bidwill plans to express this to GM candidates.
My story, via @theScore: https://t.co/xX8NHkULYH
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 10, 2023
With Kyler’s return timetable unclear and the team not looking like they’re built to contend next season, it makes plenty of sense for the team to trade the 30-year old receiver.
They should still be able to get a strong return for him. After missing the first 6 games of this season because of a suspension, Hopkins racked up 64 catches for 717 yards and 3 touchdowns over the next 9 before missing the team’s last 2 games of the year with an injury.
He proved this season that he is still one of the most talented receivers in the league and that should generate plenty of interest from teams who are more prepared to compete right now.
When they acquired Hopkins, they only gave up an aging David Johnson, a 2nd round pick, and a 4th round pick swap. They shouldn’t have a difficult time recouping that draft capital when they trade Hopkins.