Bills Trade for DeAndre Hopkins: A Move Buffalo Needs to Make?
The Buffalo Bills have seen first-hand what All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins is capable of.
And with receiver being one of the key areas of improvement for the team this offseason, putting together a trade to acquire the star pass-catcher from the Arizona Cardinals could be a deal that keeps the Bills in Super Bowl contention for the foreseeable future. A receiving duo of Stefon Diggs and Hopkins would become arguably the league's best pass-game pairing, especially with Josh Allen at the helm.
Most offseason trade predictions fail to come true, and Hopkins coming to Buffalo doesn't have any real known traction at the moment. But it's a trade scenario that, should it come to fruition, would benefit both Hopkins and the Bills based on team need and the veteran's own desire to contend for a title.
It certainly makes it more enticing for the Bills when considering that the 30-year-old once again looked like a top-tier receiver this past season despite being faced with adversity.
During Arizona's abysmal 4-13 finish this past season, Hopkins still finished as the team's leader in receiving yards (717) despite missing eight games, six of which came in the first six weeks of the season due to a PED suspension. But despite that, reports have indicated that the Cardinals still plan on trading Hopkins at some point this offseason.
A potential Hopkins trade to the Bills is an idea that USA Today recently drew up as well, stating that the need for a "1B" to Diggs' "1A" could be a major reason for Buffalo to pull the trigger. Additionally, No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis is set to enter free agency next offseason, making him a potential piece for Buffalo to send to the Cardinals. They'll obviously be needing receiver depth if Hopkins were to be traded, and sliding Davis into Arizona's offense alongside speedster Marquise Brown makes for a respectable receiving duo.
Per USA Today:
Gabe Davis was a big disappointment in 2022. After what was supposedly his breakout performance against the Chiefs in the divisional round, where he caught four touchdowns, Davis notched only 48 catches on the season, and was very boom or bust. The Bills need a 1B to Stefon Diggs’ 1A. Hopkins has shown that he is still capable of being a top 10 receiver in the game, it just won’t be in Arizona. Pairing him with Josh Allen and Diggs would greatly benefit both Buffalo and Hopkins.
So ... back to that familiarity the Bills have with Hopkins.
In what was one of the most impressive plays in recent NFL memory, Hopkins crushed the Bills' spirits with an insane, 43-yard game-winning touchdown in a 32-30 victory over Buffalo during the 2020 season. Surrounded by elite Buffalo defensive backs in Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde and Tre'Davious White, Hopkins managed to out-leap all three to come down with the Hail Mary lob from quarterback Kyler Murray.
It's certainly a play that Bills Mafia would like to forget, but one that could also be simultaneously forgiven should Hopkins head to Orchard Park via trade.
Trade ideas - even the silly ones - will continue to populate in great numbers this offseason. But the thought of Hopkins in a Bills jersey is hard to ignore and certainly one that should have all of Bills Mafia perking up a bit.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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