(Photo: Newsweek)
The Houston Texans have been solid when it comes to drafting Wide Receivers. First, it was Andre Johnson and he just became their first ever Pro Football Hall of Famer. Now, they have Nico Collins. In between those two, DeAndre Hopkins was a Houston Texan. Shockingly in 2020, the Texans decided to trade him to the Arizona Cardinals and he paired up with Kyler Murray. In 2023, he was released by Arizona and signed with the Tennessee Titans returning to the AFC South. This past season, the Titans traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs thinking it would bolster up their receiver room after losing Rashee Rice. DeAndre has hopped around a bit (no pun intended). He has signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, something he predicted five years ago when he took a picture with both Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
At one time, he was widely regarded as one of the three best Wide Receivers in football. In the right system, he’s still a serviceable asset. Anytime that ball is in his direction, he’s coming down with it and there isn’t a ball he can’t catch. DeAndre has phenomenal ball skills and a natural knack for the ball. It doesn’t matter the coverage or even the Cornerback defending him, he has the confidence that he can win every one on one and make every catch. DeAndre can run over the middle, go intermediate, work the flat or go over the top and he’s getting the ball regardless of the route he runs. With the ball in his hands, DeAndre is slippery in the open field and moves so well after the catch. I’ve always said one thing he’s never received credit for is being a physical receiver and doesn’t hesitate to show that dog mentality on the field. He’s one of the best when it comes to making the contested catch and I say that because the coverage on him can be top of the line, he displays body control and goes up for the ball. DeAndre receives his share of one-on-one opportunities and looks, then takes full advantage of it. When he’s healthy, he’s everything you could want and ask for in a receiver.
I remember back in 2022, the Arizona Cardinals were set to play the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick in his weekly press conference stated that Deandre has the tremendous ball skills and also mentioned that he’s not covered even though he is because he’s still getting the ball as I mentioned in the previous paragraph. Bill also paid him the highest compliment and said he’s every bit as good as anybody he’s ever coached against. He finished the 2024 season playing with an MVP winning Quarterback and will play this season with another. He provides the Ravens with a veteran for the younger receivers (Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman). This move also reunites DeAndre with Derrick Henry who he played with in 2023.
