Tempe, Ariz. (AP) – The Arizona Cardinals released three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Friday in a salary cap move after they failed to find a trading partner in the offseason.
The Cardinals made the move three seasons after acquiring Hopkins in a trade with Houston and signing him to a $54.5 million contract extension. The soon-to-be 31-year-old Hopkins will count towards the cap this season at close to $31 million.
His cap is $22.6 million in dead money.
Hopkins had 221 catches for 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns in 35 games with Arizona. His most famous catch was a last-second hit of Kyler Murray in the end zone against the Buffalo Bills in 2020 that became known as “Hell Murray”.
Hopkins had a franchise-record 115 passes for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns in his first season with the Cardinals, but ended his second season with knee and hamstring injuries, serving seven games and a six-game suspension in the first six games of last season. Missed while doing. After testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
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