The Cardinals on Friday released three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a move that — while not a complete shock — creates several opportunities in his wake.
Arizona's decision to move on from Hopkins is tied to the team's burgeoning rebuild following a 4-13 campaign in 2022. The franchise is now out from under his two-year, $54.5 million contract, freeing up cap space to add some quality pieces around franchise quarterback Kyler Murray.
The franchise certainly would have preferred to land a trade partner for Hopkins, but the fact they couldn't find a team willing to deal for him indicates there was no viable market. Hence, his release. The question now is what the Cardinals' remaining receiving corp looks like following his release.
As it stands, Hollywood Brown is Murray's new top target, a year after ranking highly in several of the team's receiving metrics. Behind him: a hodgepodge of largely unproven players, both young and veteran.
MORE: DeAndre Hopkins landing spots: Bills, Eagles, Ravens among best fits
Here's what the Cardinals' projected receiver depth chart looks like for the 2023 season:
Cardinals WR depth chart
1. Hollywood Brown
Brown is the new top receiver for Murray in Arizona following Hopkins' release. The former Raven finished Year 1 in Arizona leading all Cardinals receivers in targets (107) and catches (67). He also finished second behind Hopkins in yards (709) and tied him for most touchdown catches by a receiver (three), though tight end Zach Ertz had a team-leading four.
If Brown can remain healthy (he played only 12 games last season) he can be a true top target for Murray. The question now is if he will be as successful a receiver without Hopkins to command attention from opposing defenses.
2. Rondale Moore
The third-year receiver and former Purdue star has yet to have a breakout in Arizona. In his first two NFL seasons he has combined for 120 targets, 95 catches, 849 yards and just two touchdowns. He must take the next step in his development if the Cardinals don't want to experience a noticeable drop-off in their receiving production.
3. Greg Dortch
Dortch played all 16 games for the Cardinals last season, starting four games. He stands to enjoy significantly more usage in 2023, even if only by necessity. He finished the 2022 campaign with 52 catches for 467 yards and two touchdowns — not bad for an undrafted free agent-turned-practice squad member.
MORE: Breaking down NFL teams' cap space to sign DeAndre Hopkins
4. Michael Wilson
Wilson enters his rookie campaign in Arizona as a third-round pick out of Stanford, where he played from 2018 through 2022. The Cardinals' fourth pick of the draft — and 94th overall — Wilson accumulated 134 catches for 1,662 yards and 11 touchdowns. His best collegiate season came as a sophomore in 2019, when he had 56 catches for 672 yards and five touchdowns.
5. Zach Pascal
Pascal is a veteran presence in the Cardinals' receiving corps, going undrafted in 2017 before breaking through for the Colts in 2018 through 2021. Pascal was a member of the NFC champion Eagles, but had a reduced role: He caught only 15 catches for 150 yards and a score.
That said, his relationship with first-year coach Jonathan Gannon, formerly the Colts' defensive backs coach and Eagles' defensive coordinator, made him a free agent target this offseason. Hopkins' release opens the door for Pascal to take on a larger role, similar to the one he had in Indianapolis.