Analysis: How did it get to this point between the Arizona Cardinals and DeAndre Hopkins?

This wasn’t how it was supposed to turn out.

When the Arizona Cardinals orchestrated their March 2020 trade with the Houston Texans to acquire All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, it was widely regarded as the steal of the century in the NFL.

In the moment and through Hopkins’ first season in Arizona, it may have been then-General Manager Steve Keim’s greatest work, bigger than plucking quarterback Carson Palmer from the Raiders for a sixth-round draft pick, better perhaps than even signing quarterback Kurt Warner off the scrapheap as a free agent in 2005.

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Hopkins wasn’t an aging former superstar when he joined the Cardinals. He was 27 and in the prime of his career. Not only that, but Keim got him for a song, sending a second-round pick to Houston along with unloading unproductive running back David Johnson and his way-too-hefty salary and a flip of fourth-round picks to complete the fleecing.

The move ultimately would help result in the firing of Bill O’Brien as Houston’s head coach and general manager. Texans fans are probably still whining about the lopsided trade and Cardinals fans weren’t bashful about piling on and rubbing it in.

It’s official: Arizona Cardinals release wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins

© Rob Schumacher/The Republic, Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) against Houston Texans defensive end Jonathan Greenard (52) in the first half at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Oct. 24, 2021.

For his part, Hopkins made it feel even more too good to be true by setting a franchise single-season record his first year in Arizona with 115 receptions for 1,407 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Kyler Murray was completely invested and enthralled with his new-found No. 1 pass catcher and everything appeared to be on the rise.

And sure enough, it was. In 2021, the Cardinals raced out to a 7-0 start and won 10 of their first 12 games overall. But with Hopkins nursing a hamstring injury and then suffering a torn MCL in his knee, the Cardinals faltered badly down the stretch and the season ended with an ugly loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round.

That’s the beginning of the explanation as to why the Cardinals found themselves where they were on Friday, choosing to release Hopkins after just three seasons. It’s not how it was supposed to turn out, but a series of events and circumstances brought us to this moment, and it may have been unavoidable.

Hopkins’ knee injury didn’t heal as fast as some thought it would and making matters worse, Hopkins failed a drug test, and it was learned he would be suspended for the first six games of last season for violating the league’s policy regarding performance-enhancing drugs.

In his first game back, Hopkins responded with 10 receptions for 103 yards in a 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. He followed that up with 12 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown during a 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. He would even end up leading the Cardinals with 717 receiving yards in 2022 and finishing second overall with 64 receptions.

There are factions in and around the franchise who believe Hopkins never was utilized correctly in former coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. He was mostly kept on the left side of the field and became more of a safety blanket for Murray than a versatile playmaker you could move around.

But in what would go down as a lost 4-13 season, it’s also important to remember that Hopkins checked out on his team in the end. He chose to skip the final two weeks, making himself unavailable to finish things off. It didn’t sit well within the organization.

Reactions: DeAndre Hopkins’ release from Arizona Cardinals shocks NFL

© Rob Schumacher, Rob Schumacher/The Republic
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) reacts after their 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Oct. 20, 2022.

Hopkins, though, came to Arizona with the reputation of marching to the beat of his own drum, often declining to practice on Wednesdays, when all NFL teams begin installing their specific game plans for that weekend’s opponent. When you’re great, sometimes you can get away with that.

When you’re coming off a PED bust and more recently, find yourself on a team with an entirely new front office and revamped coaching staff, it’s time to recalibrate things. Choosing not to attend the beginning of offseason workouts this week, even though they are voluntary, wasn’t a good look for Hopkins.

New coach Jonathan Gannon was nonchalant when asked about Hopkins’ absence, saying, “I’m not worried about Hop,” and adding, “I think he’ll fit right in when he decides to come.”

Well, he’s not coming back now and for as good as things once looked between Hopkins and the Cardinals, his departure ultimately seemed inevitable. Knowing the upcoming 2023 season is going to be a difficult one with Murray still months away from returning from a torn ACL and facing having to pay Hopkins $19.4 million this year and $14.9 million in 2024, it was no longer going to work.

Hopkins isn’t the type to patiently work through a rebuilding project. And why would the Cardinals want to pay that much for an unhappy player knowing he probably wasn’t going to play the good soldier? It only made sense for the team to let Hopkins and his representatives try to facilitate a trade to another club.

In the end, neither Hopkins nor the Cardinals could find a willing trade partner to take on his salary, and part of that may have been impacted by his PED offense and lack of availability the past two years. No one doubts that Hopkins remains a dynamic presence with incredible hands. Even though he turns 31 a week from Tuesday, his skills can help put a great team over the top.

Things unraveled to the point that it wasn’t going to happen here. The Cardinals knew it and that’s why they are willing to eat $22.6 million in dead cap money now to move on from Hopkins, clear $7.3 million in cap space this season, and continue with their rebuild.

Would it have been nice if the Cardinals could have got something for Hopkins? Absolutely. For all parties involved, however, it was time to part ways.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Analysis: How did it get to this point between the Arizona Cardinals and DeAndre Hopkins?