Let me start by saying this. Despite the headline, I would absolutely love for DeAndre Hopkins to be in a Dallas uniform.
As someone who was born and raised in Texas, I have always secretly rooted for the other Texas team in Houston. When they aren’t playing head to head versus Dallas, that is.
Hopkins was a big part of that Houston Texans team since being drafted 27th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft, and before being (mistakenly) traded to Arizona prior to the 2020 season.
At that time, I was pounding the table for Dallas to make a move to acquire the All-Pro wide receiver to pair with Dak Prescott’s other new toy, Amari Cooper.
As expected, Cowboys fans didn’t get what they wanted. Which is why they shouldn’t expect to this time either!
Aside from the fact that the Cowboys rarely make splash moves like signing a 3x All-Pro wide receiver in free agency, several factors go into why this just wouldn’t be a good fit.
Financial Disparity
Despite Hopkins saying he’s willing to accept a much smaller salary to join a contender, recent reports since his official release from the Arizona Cardinals say otherwise.
Several sources say Hopkins is seeking a contract upwards of the $15 million annual average secured by Odell Beckham Jr. in his recent signing with the Baltimore Ravens.
That’s just money that Dallas won’t spend. Even with the money expected to be back on the books after Ezekiel Elliott’s official release post-June 1st.
As it stands right now, the Cowboys have approximately $10.550 million in cap space, with another $10.9 million added after June 1st.
Nearly $22 million in cap space is what is giving Cowboys Nation hope that DeAndre Hopkins will come strolling into The Star to sign a contract, but it’s not likely.
Even if the money were available, I find it unlikely that Dallas believes Hopkins is worth the money he is expecting to receive.
His 2020 season, and first with Arizona, was one of the best seasons of his career. However, each of the last two seasons have marred with soft tissue injuries that have limited Hopkins to only 19 out of a possible 34 games played.
Dallas would not be keen to adding injury risk on top of financial risk.
Not Enough Pie To Go Around
As mentioned above, once former RB Ezekiel Elliott’s release is official come June 1st, the Cowboys will have approximately $22 million in cap space available.
It’s easy to look at all that cap space, and expect Dallas to bring Hopkins in immediately to start building a rapport with the team.
Well, wish in one hand and spit in the other. See which one fills up first.
I hate to act like such a suit and tie instead of a fan, but we have to be reasonable.
The above graphic shows the money that the Cowboys currently have attributed to the wide receiver room.
The number that should stick out the most is the average salary of only $3.502 million next to star WR CeeDee Lamb’s name. Expect that to grow to over $20 million by this time next year.
Michael Gallup is a year removed from a new contract. Brandin Cooks and his salary were just added to the books for at least the 2023 and 2024 seasons as well.
The Cowboys have addressed the wide receiver position on the roster through the draft or trade market in each season since 2019. Surprising for a team who is widely criticized for not doing so.
Just because it’s not the player that the fan base wants on a year to year basis doesn’t mean the Cowboys aren’t actively trying to improve.
Most times, the money just doesn’t add up for them.
On top of allocating a certain amount of funds to the wide receiver room, Dallas has to consider the contract extensions of stars Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs, and Micah Parsons in the near future.
Roster Construction
As I referenced in a previous article, the Cowboys usually roster six wide receivers on the 53-man roster.
Like most NFL teams, Dallas utilizes the top four wide receivers on the roster for offense, and a mix of WR4 along with WR5 and WR6 is utilized for special teams or substitutes for injury.
Here is a look of what the active wide receiver room is likely to be in Week 1 of the 2023 season.
CeeDee Lamb
Brandin Cooks
Michael Gallup
Simi Fehoko
KaVontae Turpin
Jalen Tolbert
Lamb, Cooks, and Gallup don’t play special teams. Aside from kickoff and punt returns, Turpin doesn’t either. How would it look with Hopkins added into the fold?
CeeDee Lamb
DeAndre Hopkins
Brandin Cooks
Michael Gallup
KaVontae Turpin
Jalen Tolbert
Hopkins won’t play special teams. Turpin is too small to play gunner or personal protector, or to make tackles on the kickoff team. Especially if reports are true of a bigger role on the offense.
You can see how this would pose problems from a roster construction standpoint. Not to mention it would deem either Hopkins or Cooks as “progress stoppers” for second year WR Jalen Tolbert.
At the end of the day, unless signing DeAndre Hopkins to a contract that only costs the Cowboys a dirt cheap price somewhere in the $4-6 million range per season, it just doesn’t make sense.
I’m all for adding playmakers, but sometimes the puzzle pieces just don’t fit.