This Clemson Tigers legend has provided a direct update on his murky NFL future.
Former Clemson Tigers star DeAndre Hopkins has certainly enjoyed an incredible NFL career, but he is definitely in the twilight of his playing days.
Hopkins spent the 2025 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens, logging 22 catches for 330 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
It was the least productive year of Hopkins' 13-year professional tenure, which has led to some wondering if the Clemson product will call it quits.
However, the 33-year-old revealed he is not quite ready to hang up his cleats just yet during a recent appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast.
“I am not retiring,” Hopkins said. “I averaged 15 yards a catch last year, man.”
While that is true, Hopkins' output was also rather minimal, and he was only targeted 39 times in spite of the Ravens needing help at wide receiver.
The former first-round pick elaborated on his future on The Lounge podcast, as well.
“I love this game. I know I can keep playing this game,” Hopkins said. “I know I can go out and beat what teams call their No. 1 DB, as you guys saw the first game of the year. ... But who knows, man. I definitely want to play. I know I want to play one more year for sure."
DeAndre Hopkins. Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.Hopkins spent three seasons at Clemson between 2010 and 2012 before being selected by the Houston Texans with the 27th overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft.
He spent the first seven years of his career with the Texans, making four Pro Bowl appearances while earning three First-Team All-Pro selections.
Hopkins was then traded to the Arizona Cardinals, where he resided for three seasons. He made the Pro Bowl during his debut campaign with the Cardinals in 2020, but then, injuries hit.
Since then, Hopkins has managed just one 1,000-yard season, which came with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. He was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs midway through 2024 and caught 56 passes for 610 yards and five scores that year in total.
There is surely a team out there that would be willing to give Hopkins a one-year deal for 2026, but it's also blatantly obvious that the South Carolina native is not even remotely close to the player he once was.
But who knows? Maybe Hopkins will rebound next fall.
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