leilung

Can we? As someone else stated and his post release interviews, it's obvious he's goign OBJ and looking for shot at a Ring.

Don't be surprised if he goes to KC for way under market value.

AsylumGuido

I don't see how he wouldn't be a starter. He's still regarded as one of the elite WR's in the league.

SmashMouth

https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-n...opkins-release

Honey Badger chimes in

Boston Saint

The only way I can see him working out is if Thomas isn't a go this year. Then he takes Thomas's role. But if CGM is playing, then adding the expense of Hopkins would hurt two ways. First it would stand in the way of other young receivers developing who are making far less money. Second, his financial cost could keep us from signing a player at a position of more importance. Just my feeling. I could be wrong.

K Major

Read that article yesterday.

DHop didn't mention DCarr in his top 5 list of QB he'd like to work with before calling it a career. Can't say that I'm surprised though.

Mahomes, Hurts, Action Jackson, and Allen all make sense.

Good discussion though. We shall see.

AsylumGuido

I doubt we'll do it, but signing Hopkins would likely be a minimal cap hit for 2023. It's just the way Loomis and Harley construct their contracts. Thomas, Hopkins, Olave, and Shaheem would easily be the best top four combo in the league. Thomas hitting his physical checkpoint on April 21st (also earning him an additional $5 million guarantee) assures that he is on track for training camp so he is almost assuredly going to be in the picture barring anything unforeseen.

But, once again, I doubt it happens. I'd love it, though.

SmashMouth

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ent-to-a-deal/



Not so simple as it appears...

BakoSaint

Did you just call the possibility of Thomas being reinjured this year unforeseen? I am pretty sure if every article about Thomas and every fantasy draft analysis mentions questions about his health, its foreseen as it can ever get.

We could sign Hopkins for a minimal cap hit this year but it would have consequences later. I will give an example. Lets say Hopkins wants $20 million a year, you can adjust down 25% on all numbers if you think we would go for $15. I can come up with such a contract because I am just as smart or smarter than Hartley and Loomis. Lets say the basic concept is 3 years $60 million. But to spread out the cap in addition to voidable years we will add a meaningless $30 million in the 4th year that nobody expects us to pay, similar to Carr's last season of his contract. Signing Bonus $21 million divided over 7 years (3 voidable years at end). 2023 salary $ 1 million. 2024 Salary $14 million fully guaranteed. 2025 Salary $24 million becomes guaranteed March 2024. 2026 Salary $30 million not guaranteed. 2027-2029 void years. Total cash $60 million in 3 years, $90 million in 4 years but 4th year 'expected' to be cut or restructured. Cap hits included prorated bonus 2023: $4 million, 2024: $17 million, 2025: : $27 million, 2026: $33 million, or $12 million dead cap if cut. Dead cap: 2027: $9 million if not cut previous year.

But here is where Loomis and Hartley would make this even worse. Spring 2024 restructure. $14 million 2024 salary converted to $2 million salary and $12 million bonus prorated over remaining 6 contract/void years. Reduces 2023 cap hit from $17 million to $7 million. 2025 and 2026 cap hits increase by $2 million per year. Dead cap if cut in 2026 now $20 million. Dead cap if cut in 2027 now $15 million.

But here is how they would make it even worse than that: Spring 2025 restructure. $24 million salary restructured to $4 million salary and $20 million bonus prorated over remaining 5 contract/void years. Reduced 2025 cap hit from $29 million to $13 million. 2026 cap hit increased by $4 million to $39 million. Dead cap if cut in 2026 now $36 million due to prorating most of 2025 salary to 2026 and to 2027-2029 void years. Dead cap if cut in 2027 now $27 Million.

2026, the year we were supposed to move on. And here is where all those restructures hit home. By this point Hopkins is much older and probably a shell of himself and/or experiencing severe durability problems. Originally in the contract he was supposed to earn $30 million salary and $3 million prorated bonus which was likely to lead to being cut with this being something of a fake filler year. The cost to cut him would have been $12 million in prorated bonuses since the base salary was not guaranteed and just a filler. But now and additional $24 million of salary converted to bonuses in restructures has been prorated to the years 2026-2029 that will all come due if he is cut. $36 million dead cap, enough to prove guys on ESPN right. So, surprisingly, Hopkins will be retained after agreeing to take a 'pay cut.'

2026 restructure. Hopkins agrees to take a pay cut reducing $30 million salary to $1 million salary and $20 million signing bonus, still not bad for an old player struggling with injuries. $20 million prorates $ 5 million a year from 2026-2029. 2026 cap hit reduced from $39 million to $15 million, below even the cost to designate a post June 1 cut which would have been $18 million each in 2026 and 2027. 2027 and 2028 are changed from void years to base salaries of $18 million each with 2027 base salary becoming guaranteed March 2027.

December 2026, Hopkins suffers a brutal ACL injury after a mediocre season of play as an aging player and considers retirement. March 2027 Saints are forced to cut Hopkins as the 2027 salary is about to become guaranteed and he is not cleared to play or clearly coming back. Dead cap $41 million. Saints designate post June 1 cut and take $20.5 million cap hits in 2027 and 2028.

Bryan Bresee has emerged as a pro bowl defensive tackle. But with so much dead cap the Saints are unable to compete for his services and cannot afford to place the franchise tag on him, he signs with Atlanta. Derek Carr is aging and has been replaced by Jake Haener as the starter, but is still on the cap for $40 million with a looming $50 million dead cap whenever the team moves on. Shaheed is Bryce Young's deep threat in Carolina. Other young Saints stars are being eyed by division rivals, including Haener.

But hey, Hopkins only cost $4 million in 2023, how could we pass it up?

AsylumGuido

More negativity? I'm almost tempted to un-ignore his posts hoping he's escaped from the depths of perpetual despair. Someone let me know.

iceshack149

I'm certain that you know exactly what Bako posted.
Regarding Hopkins; he would upgrade the Saints Receiving core but if the Saints threw money at available free agents I'd hope they'd go after Frank Clark, Leonard Floyd or even Jadeveon Clowney. All are thirty years old looking to get one last shot at a ring.