Bengals Still Linked to 5-time Pro Bowler Ahead of Training Camp

The Cincinnati Bengals enter training camp with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins firmly established as their top two receivers. Everything behind them, however, remains unsettled. Andrei Iosivas and rookie Colbie Young are expected to compete for the No. 3 role, but neither has fully secured the job.

Selected by the Bengals with the 140th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Young brings intriguing size and athleticism but enters the league with limited experience and durability questions. Iosivas, meanwhile, struggled with consistency last season, including five dropped passes. With training camp approaching, the Bengals still have a clear need for another proven option.

That is why veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins continues to be linked with Cincinnati. CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford recently identified the Bengals as one of three potential landing spots for Hopkins.

“The Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs are three potential fits for Hopkins, all of which have been discussed by the former first-round pick at some point this offseason,” Crawford wrote.

Hopkins, 34, is entering his 14th NFL season. He appeared in all 17 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, catching 22 passes on 39 targets for 330 yards and two touchdowns while playing a career-low 33 percent of the offensive snaps. Although his production has declined from his prime, he still delivered in several key moments.

His last 1,000-yard campaign came in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans. He finished 2024 with 173 receiving yards in six games before being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he added 437 yards in 10 games.

Even with the recent decline, Hopkins owns one of the most accomplished resumes among active receivers. He has totaled 1,006 receptions for 13,295 yards in 195 career games and earned five Pro Bowl selections. However, the question now is what role he can still fill at this stage of his career.

Hopkins still believes he can contribute on a contender:

“I still got a lot of ball left. But it's not a situation that I'm sitting here trying to force or go out and be the regular-season superstar because that's for the young guys, man.”

One factor working in Cincinnati’s favor is Hopkins’ reported interest in playing with Joe Burrow. Throughout the latter stages of his career, Hopkins has shown a preference for joining teams with established quarterbacks, and Burrow’s presence makes the Bengals an attractive destination.

Financially, the move would carry little risk. Hopkins is expected to command a one-year contract near the veteran minimum after seeing his market cool. At that price, the Bengals would not be asking him to replace Chase or Higgins. Instead, he could provide reliable depth, dependable hands after he was charged with just two drops in 2025, and another experienced target.

In truth, if Young or Iosivas establishes himself as the clear No. 3 receiver during camp, Hopkins may no longer be necessary.

Still, with cap space available following Burrow’s contract restructure and an obvious need for receiving depth, signing Hopkins would represent a low-risk move that strengthens the Bengals’ offense without significantly affecting the development of their younger receivers.