DeAndre Hopkins is RELEASED by Cardinals as franchise avoids $30MILLION cap hit

DeAndre Hopkins has been released by the Cardinals, the team announced Friday.

Hopkins reportedly carried a cap of $30.7 million this season, and the team opted to move up from the All-Pro range with new general manager Monti Ossenfort rebuilding a team that went just 4-13 l ‘last year.

Arizona will still absorb a $22.6 million salary cap next season before Hopkins’ contract is void.

The move comes after fervent speculation that Hopkins wanted to be traded to another franchise, with the 30-year-old previously indicating he would be interested in playing for the Bills or Chiefs.

While Hopkins would later deny rumors he wanted to leave Arizona, the Cardinals’ official website admitted the team was “unable to find a business partner” before cutting ties with him.

Bills linebacker Von Miller teased the possibility of Hopkins joining him at Buffalo last month

Bills linebacker Von Miller said last month that Hopkins wanted to be a Bill, and the All-Pro receiver basically confirmed that when he appeared on ‘I AM AN ATHLETE‘ earlier this week – while still on the Cardinals.

Hopkins named Bills quarterback Josh Allen as a passer he would like to play with, as well as Jalen Hurts of the Eagles, Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, Lamar Jackson of the Ravens and Justin Herbert of the Chargers.

After being acquired in 2020 with a fourth-round pick for a second-round pick, running back David Johnson and a future fourth-round pick, Hopkins has had mixed results at Arizona.

The catcher excelled in his freshman year, catching a franchise-record 115 balls for 1,407 yards, but things went downhill after that.

Injuries saw him play just 10 games in 2021, and he played one less the following season as he missed the first six games of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.