Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North Rivals Easily Top Landing Spots For Big Time Free Agent Wide Receiver

The Pittsburgh Steelers have added several new names to their cornerback room during the 2023 offseason by signing Patrick Peterson and then drafting Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. There is now a chance that those new additions could be tested often if the AFC North brings in a familiar face near the top of the NFL receiving charts. That threat is DeAndre Hopkins.

Steelers Watch As Offseason Moves Continue

The Arizona Cardinals spent the early parts of the offseason testing the league's waters for a potential trade partner that would take on the expensive contract that came with Hopkins' talents. As the weeks passed, it became apparent that the Cardinals would need to go in a different direction, leading to Hopkins' release on Friday.

His age (30 years old), the large expense required for Arizona to keep him ($30 million in 2023) combined with his recent injury struggles made the choice to release him a much easier one than many expected. He arrived in Arizona with high expectations and right off the bat it seemed like Hopkins wouldn't miss a beat in his new home thanks to his 1,407 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. However, he didn't break 750 yards in either of his next two seasons despite putting up eight touchdowns in 2021.

After his injuries only let him play in 10 games in 2021 and nine games in 2022, the Cardinals chose youth over the risk of putting their faith in a receiver officially over the dreaded 30-year line. Now swimming in the waters of free agency, Hopkins gets to see if the rest of the league believes in him as much as he does.

Steelers' Divisional Rivals Looking At DeAndre Hopkins

The Baltimore Ravens ranked at or near the bottom for passing offense in two out of the last three years (32nd in 2020, 28th in 2022), so their approach this offseason seemed geared to change that narrative. The contract situation with quarterback Lamar Jackson threatened to derail any progress the team had made, but they moved forward in faith that their plan would work out. Odell Beckham Jr. was brought onto the team prior to Jackson's contract officially reuniting him with the Ravens, they signed Nelson Agholor as another veteran presence in the position room, then they drafted Zay Flowers 22nd overall, putting their full weight behind the belief that the 2023 Ravens would field a frightening passing threat.

If the Ravens are all-in regarding the passing game, making a move for Hopkins could be the final, meaningful sign that this year's offense will make its living through the air. According to the writing staff of The Athletic, Baltimore is a viable landing spot for the dynamic receiver with something to prove. Everyone knows the talent that Jackson's legs hold, plus the way the Ravens' offense primarily relied on the ground game lately, so it could be seen as extra weight that would cause unbalance on the team.

If Baltimore does want to bring Hopkins into the awful purple they champion, it comes down to whether Hopkins sees wiggle room in his asking price. While the idea of adding Hopkins is tantalizing, The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec stated that their eyes may be a bit too big for their mouth, as it isn't necessarily the immediate fallout, but future financial implications that should be taken into account.

"The Ravens still have limited cap space, and they’ve already pushed a ton of money onto future caps. There are a lot of mouths to feed on their offense as it is. General Manager Eric DeCosta loves being in the mix for talented veteran players, but it’s fair to be skeptical that Hopkins fits the Ravens’ mantra of 'right player, right price.'"

Steelers Wonder If Cleveland Is In Play

The NFL season is filled with wonderful storylines and narratives that capture and excite us all. One of those, if the Cleveland Browns take a shot at Hopkins, could be the receiver's reunion with maligned-quarterback Deshaun Watson. Hopkins has had high praise for Watson throughout their time together, including when he called Watson his favorite quarterback in a 2018 interview. With that kind of bond, it could make sense that the Browns may be considering reuniting the two talented players.

While the prospect of bringing Hopkins back to the quarterback he raved about could be tempting, the Browns already have a pretty full receiver room and it would make sense that if Hopkins was signed, someone would be out in the cold. Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Elijah Moore are three viable frontmen who possess the ability to alter a game, but also on the roster are David Bell and Cedric Tillman, two third-round picks from this year and last year. That's a cramped room already, with more competition sure to arise during training camp, but if Hopkins gets thrown into the mix the challenge in making the roster becomes a rough task for both Bell and Tillman.

As talented as Cooper is and while Peoples-Jones has made an impact in Cleveland, there is a wide gap between what the Browns currently have and what Hopkins could potentially bring to the squad. Perhaps the front office would see this big signing as some kind of trade-off for having practically no high-tier draft selections this year. Watson was rusty in the games he played in 2022, so it could be a line of thought that Hopkins could bring some consistency and comfortability to the struggling quarterback.

Steelers Prepared For Either Or None

While the Steelers will be watching to see if anything comes from the rumors of Hopkins coming to the AFC North, it won't be with any fear or trepidation. The productive offseason has put the team in an excellent spot to handle the firepower that will be thrown their way, even if it means going up against Hopkins twice a year.

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