Cardinals Closing In On Extension For WR DeAndre Hopkins

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Cardinals and WR DeAndre Hopkins are closing in on an agreement on a contract extension.

According to Aaron Wilson, Hopkins’ pending deal with the Cardinals deal isn’t done yet, but it is expected to make him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. 

Part of the reason Houston decided to trade Hopkins this offseason was that they were reluctant to pay him the kind of money he was looking for in his next contract.

However, Arizona has made it clear that they have no issues signing Hopkins to an extension. 

Back in April, Cardinals GM Steve Keim mentioned that they had opened negotiations for Hopkins and RB Kenyan Drake. 

“Both those guys are guys we’d like to have long-term,” Keim said, via AzCardinals.com. “Again, if it makes our organization better and the opportunity arises, we will certainly do that. I’ve had communication with both their agents. We’ll continue to pound away. The draft is the most important part right now, but we will continue to have ongoing talks with both of those players’ agents.”

As of now, Hopkins ranks No. 8 in average salary for wide receivers at $16.2 million per year. The top-end of the receiver is Julio Jones’ $22 million per year.

Hopkins, 27, was taken with the No. 27 overall pick back in 2013. He’s currently in the third year of his five-year, $81 million extension that includes $49 million guaranteed.

Hopkins was set to make base salaries of $12.5 million, $13.5 million and $13.91 million over the remainder of his current deal.

In 2019, Hopkins appeared in 15 games for the Texans and caught 104 passes for 1,165 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 18 yards.