The day took a turn on May 26 after the Arizona Cardinals elected to release star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins after failing to find a trade partner over the NFL offseason.
Within the hour there were new betting odds available on Hopkins’ 2023 destination via DraftKings Sportsbook. Sports news app uSTADIUM shared them on Twitter, and the New York Jets were very high on the list.
Odds on @DeAndreHopkins Next Team (@DraftKings):#Bills +250#Chiefs +400#Jets +550#Ravens +650#Patriots +800#Chargers +1000#Lions +1500#Eagles +2000#Giants +2200#Cowboys +2500
— uSTADIUM App (@uSTADIUM) May 26, 2023
Coming in at +550 according to DraftKings, the Jets ranked third behind the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills (+250) and Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (+400). The Baltimore Ravens (+650) and New England Patriots (+800) rounded out the top five.
NFL Insiders & Analysts Connect DeAndre Hopkins to Jets in Free Agency
It’s not just the betting odds that like DeAndre Hopkins as an option for Gang Green, multiple NFL insiders and analysts connected the former three-time All-Pro to NYJ after the news.
Heavy on Sports insider Matt Lombardo tapped his sources for the “best fits” for Hopkins in free agency and the Jets ended up leading the way.
“If the Jets have shown anything during this offseason, it is that they are all-in on making a run,” Lombardo voiced. “After landing Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers, the Jets could quickly climb the AFC East hierarchy by dropping Hopkins into Rodgers’ supporting cast, alongside veteran Allen Lazard and upstart Garrett Wilson, who caught 83 passes for 1,103 yards with 4 touchdowns as a rookie, last season.”
It’s a good sell, and why not? Considering the Jets could just release veteran Corey Davis in order to free up room for Hopkins — Davis cut saves $10.5 million according to Over the Cap.
“New York currently sits with only $6.38 million in cap space, but Hopkins is the type of player general manager Joe Douglas would do cap gymnastics over trying to acquire,” Lombardo noted, concluding: “It’s easy to envision Hopkins making a similar impact on the Jets’ Super Bowl chances as A.J. Brown did just down the New Jersey Turnpike in Philadelphia, for the …read more
Source:: Heavy.com
