Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was connected to several teams in trade rumors just ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft, with the Ravens and Titans seemingly leading the pack.
It became apparent early on draft night, however, that moving Hopkins was not in the Cardinals' plans. Arizona did bounce around at the top of Round 1, trading from No. 3 to No. 12 and then back up to No. 6, but it stood pat with Hopkins.
According to first-year general manager Monti Ossenfort, fans shouldn't expect any movement with regard to Hopkins this weekend.
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"I don't foresee that happening," Ossenfort told the media after the Cardinals picked Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr. on Thursday. "I don't know what is going to happen here in the next couple of days. Right now, I don't foresee that happening."
Ossenfort later clarified that he meant nothing would happen through Saturday. "Through the entire draft," he said. "DeAndre's a Cardinal. DeAndre's a Cardinal and we're moving forward."
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Why wasn't DeAndre Hopkins traded?
Although Ossenfort didn't directly address why Hopkins wasn't traded despite his desire to be moved, former Cardinals GM Steve Keim had an educated guess earlier in the month.
"Here's the problem: The problem is his current contract," Keim said on Chris Long's podcast, per arizonasports.com. "Hop was his own agent, and I can tell you that wasn't the easiest (negotiation) in the world. Between him and Larry Fitzgerald, that put all the gray on my beard."
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"They're probably going to have to come to understand that they're probably not going to get as much as they would if he was a younger player or his contract was considerably lower, where you could get him for a second-round," Keim said. "It could end up being a second- or third-day draft pick to really get it done. Probably get a new deal done."
DeAndre Hopkins trade rumors
Hopkins has been linked to multiple teams in trade rumors.
Shortly after Lamar Jackson's contract extension with the Ravens was announced Thursday, there was talk of Hopkins making his way to Baltimore becaue of how Jackson's extension was constructed.
After that came a report that the Cardinals were in talks to send Hopkins and the No. 3 pick to the Titans. That was debunked by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Earlier in the week, the Bills were linked to Hopkins. Buffalo is seeking a viable receiving threat.
Hopkins can become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.