The Baltimore Ravens officially announced the signing of free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins March 13.
Hopkins will enter his 13th NFL season in 2025, after splitting last season with the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs. A five-time Pro Bowler with seven 1,000-yard seasons, some Ravens fans are wondering what Hopkins has left to showcase on the field.
It’s the same question that was raised last year when Hopkins was traded to Kansas City in October, according to Chiefs color analyst and former NFL wide receiver Danan Hughes.
“There was a lot of questions when Hopkins came here,” Hughes said on Glenn Clark Radio March 12. “At the end of the season, however, the conversations about Hopkins were exactly what you wanted to hear.”
Hughes believes that despite Hopkins not having the skill set he once did, Hopkins is still great in other ways such as being a leader in the locker room.
“He filled in a role you needed him to, and that’s not just on the field in production, but in the locker room as well, mentoring guys like Xavier Worthy. They [the Chiefs] didn’t really expect that part, and I think that’s where guys around the Ravens organization should be happy about getting Hopkins. He’ll hold receivers accountable and even Lamar Jackson,” Hughes said.
With receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman on the roster and Tylan Wallace returning, Hopkins adds depth and veteran experience to the Ravens’ receiving corps.
“He absolutely checks the box, not only with depth, but especially if you have an offensive coordinator that knows how to put players in position to be successful. He had a specific role with the offense, and you need to accept the players for who they are,” Hughes said. “To have that kind of smarts [that Hopkins does], is just as good as someone who can catch the ball.”
In 10 games with the Chiefs last season, Hopkins had 41 receptions for 437 yards and four touchdowns, and Hughes said Hopkins showed he was still a powerful red-zone target.
“If there’s one area that you can still count on him [Hopkins] to be productive, it’s the red zone,” Hughes said. “He had an amazing catch on ‘Monday Night Football’ against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You know exactly what you’re going to get from him.”
Hopkins’ ability in the short passing game is another component Hughes can see Baltimore capitalizing on.
“The short passing game, I can envision Hopkins with Lamar Jackson and his running ability,” Hughes said. “Imagine a linebacker having to face Lamar Jackson at the line of scrimmage while DeAndre Hopkins is running a shallow cross. Who do you guard and basically pick your poison?”
And as for why the Chiefs didn’t re-sign Hopkins this offseason, Hughes said it could just have been a question of numbers.
“Free agency has three sides: the player, the team and the agent,” Hughes said. “I don’t know why he wasn’t invited back. It just might have not been a fit for him based off of the Chiefs getting back receivers such as Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown.”
For more from Hughes, listen to the full interview here: