Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Top Trade Choice for DeAndre Hopkins? 'He's a Dog!'
Boasting an elite roster once again ahead of a championship-minded season, the reality for the Philadelphia Eagles is almost as good as it gets. But when dream scenarios get dangled right in front of your face, it's hard to not let the imagination run wild.
Meanwhile, Arizona Cardinals star receiver DeAndre Hopkins skipped the start of OTAs on Monday, an unsurprising move since he's been the center of trade rumors all offseason. But he still made headlines in other ways.
During a recent appearance on the I AM ATHLETE podcast, Hopkins was asked about which quarterback he'd love to have throwing him the rock. In fitting fashion, since he's been so involved in trade speculation with the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen was the first name Hopkins mentioned.
But after praising Allen, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was Hopkins' pick at No. 2.
"Jalen Hurts. Man, he's a Houston kid, he a dog," he said.
Hopkins joining an Eagles offense already featuring A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Hurts? It sounds way too good to be true. If general manager Howie Roseman were to pull that kind of trade off, might as well give Philly the Lombardi.
But after the 2023 NFL Draft came and went and Hopkins still remained a member of the Cardinals, what were once piping-hot trade rumors for a team like the Bills quickly died out. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort denied that "Nuk" would be traded and Hopkins himself took it a step further in a video posted to social media on May 1.
“I see everybody telling me to stay," Hopkins said. "Who said I wanna go? Who said I wanna leave? I'm out here working, baby!"
On the surface, there was never any real reported traction between the Eagles and Hopkins in the first place, but it's still significant that without even naming current Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, Hopkins went with Allen and Hurts over a handful of elite others. Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson, and Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert rounded out Nos. 3 through 5, respectively. This is certainly a list worth debating, but Hopkins made it clear that he wanted Allen at the top.
He also put an emphasis on the type of front office and quarterback he wants to continue his career with, whether that be in Arizona or elsewhere.
"What I want is stable management upstairs," Hopkins said. "I think that’s something I haven’t really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston and then to Arizona. I’ve been through three or four GMs in my career, so a stable management. A QB who loves the game, a QB who brings everybody on board with him and pushes not just himself but everybody around him ... and a great defense. A great defense wins championships.”
Along with making Hurts their franchise quarterback, the Eagles have proven from top to bottom that they check off the boxes on Hopkins' list. But unless Philly and Arizona are somehow on the verge of sparking up trade talks, it's a mute point.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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