It’s been a busy NFL offseason for the Atlanta Falcons. There are also no signs of it slowing down.
Rumors have swirled that the Arizona Cardinals will trade five-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. On March 23, Heavy senior NFL reporter Matt Lombardo named the Falcons one of the best three fits for the veteran receiver.
“I think Atlanta is a really interesting landing spot for DeAndre Hopkins,” Lombardo said on his weekly show. “You add him in with Drake London, who you drafted a year ago, who showed he can walk onto the field as a rookie and be a true No. 1 wide receiver, you pair him with Kyle Pitts, who at his healthiest, is a top four tight end in the NFL and a matchup nightmare in the open field.
“That’s a nice little counter pouch to what the Saints did in signing Derek Carr,” added Lombardo. “You set up a collection of skill players pretty nicely for Desmond Ridder in 2023 and you make Atlanta a soft landing spot if you’re going to draft a quarterback in 2024.”
Hopkins missed the first six games of the 2022 season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. After he returned, he posted 64 receptions for 717 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in nine games.
The Falcons recently dealt with suspension issues at receiver with Calvin Ridley. That could scare the team away from acquiring Hopkins.
But adding Hopkins as a secondary option in the passing game would be a boost for the offense.
Hopkins dominated the NFL from 2017-19, recording three straight seasons with at least 95 receptions, 1,110 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. He made first-team All-Pro in all three years.
Additionally, Hopkins has recorded three other 1,000-yard campaigns, including his most recent one with 1,407-yards in 2020.
Although he’s not the elite receiver he once was, in Atlanta, he wouldn’t have to be the go-to receiver. Hopkins could thrive with the Falcons as a secondary option after London and Pitts.
His arrival could maximize what the offense gets out of Ridder during his first full year as a starter.
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