DeAndre Hopkins expresses strong desire to reunite with Kyler Murray and potentially join the Vikings, hinting at a significant offensive boost.
Another star free agent could be on the Minnesota Vikings' radar. NFL veteran DeAndre Hopkins and former teammate of now Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray with the Arizona Cardinals says he'd like to play alongside Murray again in 2026.
Hopkins was asked if he would have any interest in catching passes from Murray again. He gave a clear answer for TMZ Sports on how he feels about that possibility.
"Oh man, Kyler is, that's my boy. Kyler's like family. I talked to Kyler throughout the year last year. I talked to Kyler, you know, after his situation in Arizona, so, you know I would always embrace that journey with him. He's on a one-year deal if I'm not mistaken. So, you know, whatever I could do, for someone like that, if Kyler needs me, he knows I’m there, if the Vikings need me, they know I’ll be there. You know, Justin Jefferson, they've got if not one of the best receivers in the game. I think Kyler fits in perfect there. I think Kyler is one of the best accurate quarterbacks in the game and his stats show that
Whether or not the Vikings should consider bringing in Hopkins is somewhat of a no brainer. The question is what type of contract would make sense for the aging veteran.
Hopkins can still play, but his statistics have been on the decline. The 2024 season, where he split time with the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs, saw him fall below 11.0 yards per reception (10.9) for the first time in his career. Hopkins put up 1,057 yards in 2023 with the Titans only to fall to 610 yards in 2024.
The talented pass catcher saw his yards per reception average go up with the Ravens last season, with his first season above 15.0 yards per reception since the 2014 season. However, that average came due in large part to a smaller sample size. Hopkins only caught 22 passes on 39 targets with 330 receiving yards.
Can Hopkins still be an effective player? A look at the 15.0 yards per reception probably answers that question as it is asked. That said, he's not going to be the same player that routinely went for over 1,000 receiving yards with ease with the Houston Texans earlier in his career.
Minnesota should not have too high hopes for what they could get from Hopkins. Even so, the former NFL star might be worth adding to Murray's receiving corps on a one-year contract of his own.