For years, Baltimore Ravens fans have hoped and wished for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to become a Raven. Today, it’s come true as the Ravens have reportedly signed Hopkins to a one-year, $5 million deal.
Hopkins, 32, joins the Ravens after years of reported interest from Hopkins in his interest to play with Lamar Jackson and vice versa.
On a recent appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, free-agent WR DeAndre Hopkins listed the five QBs he’d most like to catch passes from: the Bills’ Josh Allen, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 26, 2023
Throughout the past five years, the Ravens have been linked in rumored trade talks for the wideout. Most recently in 2023, just before the 2023 NFL Draft.
Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Hopkins as they built up for another Super Bowl run. The Chiefs sent the Tennessee Titans a fifth-round pick that could become a fourth-round selection if the Chiefs reached the Super Bowl (they did) and Hopkins played 60% of snaps (he played 51%).
Hopkins will be five years removed from being a Pro Bowl receiver (2020), but his addition still bolsters a receiving corps and is an upgrade for the offense. He remains a threat in the passing game and has produced 2,384 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns the past three seasons.
Hopkins joins a talented receiving duo in Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers, who both put up single-season bests. Flowers finished with 1,059 yards and four touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl and first Pro Bowl of any Ravens’ drafted receiver in franchise history, while Bateman totaled 756 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, along with a receiving touchdown in both Ravens playoff games.
With the addition of Hopkins, it’s unlikely the Ravens will now re-sign veteran Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace, instead hoping to use the trio of Bateman, Flowers, Hopkins and further develop 2024 fourth-round pick Devontez Walker.