Both fans and analysts have spent the NFL offseason talking about how the Cincinnati Bengals can improve their defense. Among the worst in football defensively last season, Cincinnati missed the playoffs for a third straight year, and it was largely due to poor play on that end of the ball. While injuries played a factor, Cincinnati was above average offensively, led by the dynamic duo of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
Recognizing the need to improve defensively, the Bengals did so both in free agency, trades, and the NFL Draft. Pulling all three of these levers, Cincinnati focused significantly on improving its defense, and by all accounts has done so. Whether or not it will be enough to vault this team back into the playoffs remains to be seen, but there was definitely an effort made by the Bengals.
While there may still be more defensive moves for the Bengals to make, the team also has at least one potential offensive option on the free agent market.
For the second time this offseason, five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has expressed interest in playing with Burrow. He first did so at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, complimenting Cincinnati’s quarterback and sharing his thoughts on how cool it would be to play with him in the NFL.
Reiterating this on Saturday, Hopkins said, "I think Joe is one of the best. I love his game, his toughness. He took his team to a Super Bowl early in his career and I feel like he can get back there with a little bit of help."
Other players around the league have expressed similar thoughts on Burrow, and while that hasn’t always meant there was a real path to making that happen, this case is a bit different because Hopkins is a free agent and could slot in as WR3 for Cincinnati alongside Chase and Tee Higgins.
Cincinnati already has one of the best receivers in the league in Chase, and another force in Higgins, but could make room for Hopkins if the two sides can align on an agreement. If nothing else, it would be another weapon for Burrow, who would seemingly have full buy-in from Hopkins given his recent comments and veteran experience.
Hopkins, now 33, has had a remarkable NFL career spanning 13 seasons and five different teams — most notably his seven-year run with the Houston Texans from 2013 to 2019.