Now that DeAndre Hopkins is a free agent, he could land wherever he wants. For the Packers, some of those landing spots are better than others.
DeAndre Hopkins and the Arizona Cardinals have finally split.
It didn't happen through a trade, as was expected for most of the spring. Instead, the Cardinals simply released Hopkins on Friday, opening the door for any interested team to sign him.
And, of course, there will be plenty of interested teams. Hopkins is a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler after all. He may be coming off two lukewarm seasons but he's still an immense talent and target.
From the Packers' perspective, where Hopkins lands could have a huge impact.
Packers disaster scenario No. 3: DeAndre Hopkins signs with Vikings
It's hard enough keeping track of Justin Jefferson and Minnesota just added Jordan Addison in the draft. If the Vikings added Hopkins, their receiving corps would be a handful and a half.
Minnesota watched Adam Thielen walk in free agency to the Panthers. They could replace him as a veteran presence with Hopkins, who could join a team with at least some Super Bowl aspirations.
The Vikings aren't the most realistic landing spot for Hopkins but it would be a blow for the Packers to watch him land in the division.
Packers disaster scenario No. 2: DeAndre Hopkins signs with Lions
While the Vikings topped the NFC North last year, it feels like the Lions are the rising power in the division and DeAndre Hopkins would only make them stronger.
Detroit already has a young star in Amon-Ra St. Brown but they lost DJ Chark to the Panthers in free agency and have Jameson Williams sitting out the first six games of 2023 because of his gambling suspension. Jared Goff could use another target.
Hopkins has named quarterbacks he'd be interested in catching passes from, and Goff certainly isn't on that list. He also wants to compete for a Super Bowl, and the Lions probably aren't ready for that quite yet.
Even so, the Lions have more cap space to work with than most of Hopkins other suitors and we've seen many a free agent place "competing for a championship" highly on their list of wants only to go where the money was better.
Packers disaster scenario No. 1: Green Bay overpays for DeAndre Hopkins
The Packers went as all-in at receiver in the NFL Draft as they could without actually using a first round pick on one. They added Jayden Reed in the second round, Dontayvion Wicks in the fifth and Grant Dubose in the seventh.
The WR room has been restocked with bodies but its sorely lacking in star power. Christian Watson's 611 yards last year are the career high for any of the receivers on Green Bay's roster. Romeo Doubs leads the room with 42 catches last year.
So going after Hopkins would make a lot of sense. His career-low year in 2021 was just about as productive as what Watson or Doubs have achieved so far in their young careers.
But landing Hopkins would come with risk. The Packers would have to shell out money to entice the receiver from his other suitors and, to be frank, he may legitimately be on the downswing of his career.
Hopkins is going to be looking for significant, No. 1 receiver kind of money despite his age. Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac supposed he could command up to $20 million per year even at 31.
So what if the Packers commit $20 million to give Love a star target but that aging and often-injured receiver turns out to be…aging and often injured?
Green Bay would end up in a similar situation to Arizona, carrying a premium wide receiver contract without getting premium wide receiver returns. See: Julio Jones with the Titans.
It's a worst-case scenario, but one the Packers would have to consider.
