Giants Country

Should Giants Trade for WR DeAndre Hopkins?

The Giants need an X-receiver. Hopkins can fill that role, but at what cost?
Patricia Traina|
Should Giants Trade for WR DeAndre Hopkins?
Should Giants Trade for WR DeAndre Hopkins?

In this story:

New York Giants

The New York Giants need help at receiver, an opinion with which everyone can probably agree. But opinions start to vary in where the Giants are going to find that help, be it in the draft, via free agency, or via trade.

The current free agent draft class is not universally thought to be a strong one, and there have been mixed opinions about the draft class, which seems to have an abundance of slot receivers than guys who might be better suited for the X-receiver role.

Pro Football Focus's Brad Spielberger believes the Giants should contemplate a trade for disgruntled Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a move in which the Giants would send two draft picks--a second-rounder and a fifth-rounder--to the Cardinals in exchange for the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro. 

Hopkins, 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, is certainly a fit for the X-receiver role the Giants need. But there are some drawbacks to this proposal. 

First, Hopkins is two years removed from his last 1,000-yard receiving season, partly because he hasn't played a complete season in the last two years due to different circumstances, including a six-game league-imposed suspension in 2022 for having violated the league policy on PEDs.

The 31-year-old is also under contract through 2024 at $19.45 million for 2023 and $14.915 million for 2024 (assuming his contract isn't altered by the acquiring team, the cap cost would not include the prorated signing bonus).

The problem with this entire proposal is the compensation. If the Giants were to move their second-round pick--and we just don't see that being a consideration given the team's needs--they'd likely be passing up on a chance to get a center or interior defensive lineman in the second round.

If the Giants were to make this trade--a big "if"--a more realistic compensation package would be surrendering the second of their two third-round picks (the one acquired via Kansas City in the trade for Kadarius Toney) and one of their two sixth-round picks. 

Under no circumstances do we view it wise for the Giants to part with any picks in the top 100, nor do we think it makes sense to create a skip in the rounds, such as what Spielberger's proposal would create.

While we would prefer the Giants look to get younger at the receiver position, Hopkins might make for a nice stop-gap for a Giants team looking to take the next step forward in its progress.

 

Published
Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

Share on XFollow Patricia_Traina
Home/Big Blue+