The Arizona Cardinals front office could look to land a free-agent wide receiver if they move on from DeAndre Hopkins in 2023.
When the Arizona Cardinals offense takes the field in 2023, there’s a decent possibility that the squad will do so without the services of DeAndre Hopkins. It appears as if the organization has interest in trading the wide receiver, primarily because of the exorbitant amount of salary-cap space the team will recoup by parting ways with the 30-year-old superstar.
If Hopkins does indeed get dealt, the Cards could very well be on the lookout for another top-notch pass-catcher. Robbie Anderson, the team’s disappointing trade acquisition from last October, will almost certainly be released. Veteran A.J. Green also isn’t likely to return, so Arizona will undoubtedly be looking to add to a receiving corps that currently consists of Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch.
The money that the Cardinals will save by not having to pay Hopkins could be used on a replacement for the five-time Pro Bowler. Free agency is just around the corner. The following are four wideouts who the club could have interest in when the signing period gets underway in March.
JuJu Smith-Schuster – Kansas City Chiefs
Back in March of 2022, the Kansas City Chiefs signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year, $10.75 million contract. Now, one year later, the 26-year-old wideout could once again be testing the free-agent waters.
In 16 appearances (14 starts) for the Chiefs this past season, Smith-Schuster hauled in 78 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns. It was the 6 foot 1, 215 pounder’s best campaign since 2018, when he tallied 111 receptions, 1,426 receiving yards and seven scores for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Smith-Schuster was the second most-targeted Kansas City pass-catcher this past fall, with only tight end Travis Kelce getting more looks from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Redbirds will need a bigger receiver to complement Brown, Moore and Dortch, and Smith-Schuster certainly qualifies as a candidate to fill that role.
Allen Lazard – Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers needed members of their receiving corps to step up in 2022, thanks to the trade that sent superstar Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Fifth-year player Allen Lazard did just that, leading the Packers in both catches (60) and receiving yards (788) during the regular-season.
Lazard may be looking to cash in this coming spring, unless Green Bay elects to re-sign him beforehand. If not, it may behoove the Cards to make a play for the 27-year-old veteran.
In 57 career appearances (40 starts) for the Packers, Lazard has been on the receiving end of 169 of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ passes. At 6 foot 5, 250 pounds, Lazard could provide the size and physicality that the Arizona Cardinals wide receivers room so desperately needs.
Jakobi Meyers – New England Patriots
Rumor has it that the New England Patriots could be strongly interested in working out a trade for Hopkins. Could the Arizona Cardinals turn around and go after one of New England’s wideouts in free agency to help replace the sensational Hopkins?
Jakobi Meyers, a 26-year-old who joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent back in 2019, will be seeking a new contract this offseason. The 6 foot 2, 200 pounder is fresh off of a season in which he tallied 67 receptions, 804 receiving yards and six touchdowns for a mediocre New England offense.
During his four campaigns with the Pats, Meyers has totaled 218 catches, 2,547 yards and eight scores. It’s quite possible that the Cards could be intrigued by the pass-catcher’s impressive skill-set if he’s searching for employment this spring.
Darius Slayton – New York Giants
In his four campaigns with the New York Giants, free agent-to-be Darius Slayton has flashed big-play ability. The Georgia native has averaged a hefty 15 yards per catch on his 170 career receptions after arriving in the “Big Apple” four years ago.
This past fall, Slayton was credited with 46 catches that went for 724 yards. In his 59 games (40 starts) with the Giants, the 26-year-old has racked up 2,554 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
At 6 foot 1, 190 pounds, Slayton also possesses the size that Arizona could find appealing. It would not be surprising in the least if the former Auburn University product becomes of the part of the Arizona Cardinals scoring attack next fall.
(Statistics provided by Pro Football Reference)
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