Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has been at the center of trade rumors for several weeks, appears calm amid uncertainty surrounding his future.
• Also read: NFL: touching testimony about depression and anxiety from Calvin Ridley
• Also read: That’s why ‘OBJ’ is one of the most talented
“I hear a lot of rumors about a transaction,” he said Wednesday while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show. I go one day at a time. I don’t project myself into the future and try to stay in the present moment. I’m currently an Arizona Cardinals player. I am preparing for everything that awaits me in the future.”
The star player had a no trade clause in his contract but lost it due to the ban he received last year. Hopkins had to miss his team’s first six games for violating the NFL’s anti-doping policy.
Despite a limited number of games, he still dominated all other receivers of the “Cards” with a 717-yard harvest. The 30-year veteran also had three touchdowns, his lowest total in majors since his first season in the Goodell League.
“D-Hop” has a contract that runs through the end of the 2024 season and has yet to get his hands on $34.36 million. It looks like he’s looking for a new contract deal, and the Cardinals would be reluctant to do so.
Last week, Cards general manager Monti Ossenfort said he was still in the process of evaluating all the players who made the 2022 roster.
The Arizona organization acquired Hopkins from the Houston Texans in March 2020. In three seasons with the Arizona team, he played 35 of 50 games with his team.
The Cardinals are at the center of a reorganization that has notably given head coach Kliff Kingsbury the way out. Former CEO Steve Keim has resigned.