Thursday, November 05, 2026
35.0°F

Cardinals, WR Hopkins agree to 2-year extension through 2024

AP Sports Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 1 month AGO
by AP Sports Writer
| September 8, 2020 1:03 PM

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Cardinals have agreed to a two-year contract extension with star receiver DeAndre Hopkins that will keep the three-time All-Pro in Arizona through the 2024 season.

The team announced the deal on Tuesday but didn't disclose terms. The NFL Network reported that the extension is worth $54.5 million over two years. The receiver is guaranteed $42.75 million.

The deal, which Hopkins negotiated himself, also has a no-trade clause and no-franchise tag clause.

The Cardinals landed the 6-foot-1, 212-pound Hopkins in a surprising trade with the Texans during the offseason, sending veteran running back David Johnson to Houston.

The 28-year-old Hopkins has been one of the NFL's most consistent and productive receivers in recent years with at least 1,100 yards receiving in five of the past six seasons.

Arizona hopes he’ll be one of the cornerstones of an offense that includes second-year quarterback Kyler Murray, running back Kenyan Drake and receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk. The Cardinals open the season on Sunday with a road game against the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

Hopkins has seemed rejuvenated by the mid-career move and is hopeful the Cardinals can quickly become a playoff contender after finishing with a 5-10-1 record in 2019. He's been impressed by Murray, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2019.

“Kyler has an arm,” Hopkins said earlier in the preseason. “I'm thankful to play with a quarterback like that who can make any throw anywhere on the field and has the confidence to do it. Just from what I've seen, we're going to have a good time playing together.”

Hopkins still had three years remaining on a five-year, $81 million deal he signed in 2017, but Cardinals GM Steve Keim made it known that the team was trying to work on an extension after the trade.

He had 104 catches for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He was the 27th overall pick in the 2013 draft after playing in college at Clemson.

Second-year coach Kliff Kingsbury said Hopkins has been a great teammate since arriving in the desert.

“It's been fantastic,” Kingsbury said in August. “That rubs off on other players when you have a guy like that who has done what he's done, focused and locked in. It's been great.”

Hopkins is the only active NFL player to have at least 100 catches, 1,500 yards receiving and 11 touchdown catches in multiple seasons, which happened in 2015 and 2018. The only three former players to do it are Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison and Brandon Marshall.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

ARTICLES BY AP SPORTS WRITER

October 10, 2020 1:06 p.m.

Spiller helps No. 21 A&M upset No. 4 Florida 41-38

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Isaiah Spiller rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 21 Texas A&M beat fourth-ranked Florida 41-38 on Seth Small's 26-yard field goal as time expired Saturday.

October 10, 2020 12:10 a.m.

No. 15 BYU's attention on UTSA, not rise in rankings

The directive this week for No. 15 BYU: Fixate only on UTSA, not that continual rise in the rankings.

October 10, 2020 12:10 a.m.

Ryan Neal making most of his chance as starter with Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Ryan Neal understands this isn’t likely to last.