Raven Country

Looking Back: DeAndre Hopkins Loved Ravens QB Years Ago

DeAndre Hopkins finally gets the chance to play alongside Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jon Alfano|
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) runs against Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) runs against Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

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Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has a weapon at his disposal, as the team has reportedly signed star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Hopkins, 32, is one of the NFL's best receivers in the past decade with five Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro nods to his name. He may not be quite the player he was in his younger days, but he's still a solid weapon and a definite upgrade as Baltimore's No. 3 receiver.

If anything, this signing is long overdue.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins during Super Bowl LIX
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

During a podcast appearance in 2023, Hopkins spoke glowingly about Jackson a whole two years before they actually became teammates.

"I love Lamar Jackson," Hopkins said. "Lamar Jackson's one of my favorite athletes, and I've been watching sports since I've been watching sports. I'm a sports fan, I was watching Lamar when he played Clemson, my alumni [alma mater] and I was like 'who is this kid?' So I've been a fan of Lamar for a long time.

"He's one of the greats, I would be lying to sit here and say it wouldn't be an honor to one day, if my career allows me, to play with a great guy and a great quarterback like Lamar."

Hopkins wasn't just asked about Jackson out of the blue, however. This was around the time of Jackson's high-profile contract dispute with the Ravens, and during that saga, a report emerged that he wanted the team to sign Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. to get him to stay. The Ravens signed Beckham to a one-year deal, but were unable to afford Hopkins at the time. Most importantly, they signed Jackson to a monster five-year extension, and he's been playing at an MVP level ever since.

Signing Hopkins is better late than never, though, and rest assured, Jackson is happy with his new weapon.

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Jon Alfano
JON ALFANO

Jon is a lead writer for Baltimore Ravens On SI and contributes to other sites around the network as well. The Tampa native previously worked with sites such as ClutchPoints and GiveMeSport and earned his journalism degree at the University of Central Florida.

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