PFF Says Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is Entering Make-it or Break-it Year

The offseason saga between the Arizona Cardinals and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins appears to be coming to an end.

Well - hopefully.

The Cardinals reportedly put him on the trade block as soon as the season ended and toyed with the idea of dealing the All-Pro pass catcher through the months of the offseason, though a suitable offer never came across their desk.

During the 2023 NFL Draft, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said Hopkins was staying with the team. Days later, Hopkins posted a story on his personal instagram account saying, "who said I wanted to leave?".

For now, it looks like Hopkins is staying in the desert.

Pro Football Focus says Hopkins is entering a make-it or break-it year with the Cardinals:

PFF Says Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is Entering Make-it or Break-it Year

William Moy: "The following receivers all played at least 11 seasons in the NFL and earned an 85.0-plus career receiving grade:

"Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Steve Smith, T.Y. Hilton, Brandon Marshall, Dez Bryant, Jordy Nelson, Emmanuel Sanders, Larry Fitzgerald, Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin, Julian Edelman and DeSean Jackson

"Just one of those players — Anquan Boldin back in 2013 — surpassed a 90.0 receiving grade in his 11th season. Three posted a receiving grade in the 80s (none over 85.0), five finished with a grade in the 70s, four landed in the 60s and one ended in the 50s.

"The Year 11 drop-off is real, and given all the drama that has surrounded Hopkins in Arizona this offseason, how he performs in 2023 — his 11th season — could really set the tone for how the future Hall of Famer’s career wanes.

"Hopkins finished his rookie season in 2013 with a 69.0 receiving grade and then went on an eight-year run during which earned a receiving grade north of 80.0 in all but one season. While 2022 wasn’t a bad campaign for him, Hopkins posted just a 73.5 receiving grade — low by his standards.

"Will he bounce back to near-elite levels in 2023, or will he, too, succumb to a drop-off in Year 11?"

Obviously Hopkins is one of the most talented receivers of his generation, so it appears PFF is more so challenging him to continue the production into 2023.

That may be difficult with quarterback Kyler Murray still mending a torn ACL with an unknown timetable left.

However, Hopkins has proved capable of making an impact regardless of the quarterback at hand.