DeAndre Hopkins is universally acclaimed as one of the best wide receivers in the world and he made his way to the desert last season after spending the first seven years of his career in Houston. The 29-year-old superstar contributed mightily toward elevating the Cardinals from a 5-8 team in 2019 to a .500 club in 2020. Can he and his teammates take an even bigger leap this season?
According to top sportsbooks, the Cardinals believed they got a steal when they shipped a second-round pick to the Texans for one of, if not the, best wideout in the business. And come to find out, they were absolutely right. Hopkins set a franchise record with 115 receptions and tied a career-best of his own that he set in 2018 when he was playing pass and catch with Deshaun Watson in Texas.
Hopkins became available to Arizona because the former head coach, Bill O’Brien, was not seeing eye to eye with Hopkins and it became increasingly obvious that Hopkins was not going to stick in Texas as long as O’Brien was calling the shots. That led to a rather panic-stricken decision by the former Texans coach who was doubling as GM at the time. In return for one of the most electric receivers in the game, Houston received a second-round pick and the corpse of running back David Johnson.
Once in Arizona, the Cardinals didn’t waste any time in inking Hopkins to an extension that will keep him in the desert until 2025. When asked recently if he was surprised that he and Julio Jones were traded for second-round picks he grinned and sardonically noted, “That we’re not worth first-round picks, that the first-round picks are better than us,” Hopkins said, letting out a chuckle.
“I would like to see a first-round pick be able to do what Julio and myself do. But guys are pretty good, the receiver groups coming out of college are a little more advanced than I was back in my days – even though I had like, however many touchdowns, (18) touchdowns – but you got guys like (Vikings first-round pick) Justin Jefferson who came in balling as a rookie. There are definitely some guys that can do what Julio and myself do, but I’m surprised, shoot.
He then added this wry perspective, “I was only coming off a first-team All-Pro, so I kind of figured I might only go for a second-rounder, but I’m surprised Julio would only go for a second-round pick.”
If we take a look at the NFL odds over at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) we see that Arizona’s total wins are being offered at 8 ½ (O-130) which means they will only have to win one game more than they won last year after Kyler Murray got injured late in the season. Oh, and there is an extra game on the schedule this year so that certainly helps if you are inclined to bet over like I am…and any sane person reading this.
Consider that the Cards not only have Hopkins in their offensive arsenal but they also inked seven-time Pro Bowler, A.J. Green, to a contract in the offseason and then added a force of nature to their defense in the form of J.J. Watt. Oh, and Kyler Murray just happens to be one of the most dynamic young quarterbacks in the league. Isn’t that alone worth a bet on the over 8 ½ in your NFL picks?
Now if we turn our attention to the NFL futures we see that Arizona is +500 to win the rugged NFC West, +1600 to win the NFC, and +4000 to win the Super Bowl. Are the upgrades made in the offseason enough to give this dark horse some consideration this season?
On offense, Arizona signed former Pro Bowlers A.J. Green, running back James Conner, and center Rodney Hudson while drafting rookie wideout Rondale Moore out of Purdue in the second round.
Let’s turn to the defense to see what the Redbirds got busy doing. They signed the chaos-maker himself, J.J. Watt, former Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler and then selected one of the most highly touted linebackers in the draft when they tapped Zaven Collins of Tulsa with the 22nd overall pick.
Are the Cards worth a flier? Absolutely. I love the over 8 ½ win prop and believe a small wager across the board on the division, conference, and Super Bowl crowns are worth a shot. DeAndre Hopkins could get his ring in Arizona but it probably won’t be this year…although you never know.