Reports: Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins to sign record extension for non-QB
DeAndre Hopkins has agreed to a multi-year extension with the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The reported two-year extension, worth $54.5 million in additional money, will make Hopkins the highest-paid player in league history who is not a quarterback over those two seasons. The deal extends the full life of his contract with Arizona to five years and $94.4 million, an average of $18.9 million per year.
Sources: The #AZCardinals are making star WR DeAndre Hopkins the highest paid non-QB ever, giving him a 2-year contract extension worth $54.5M in new money -- $27.25M per year. Hopkins, who did the deal himself, gets $42.75M guaranteed at signing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2020
Hopkins gets pay raise that Texans declined
Hopkins joined the Cardinals this offseason from the Houston Texans via trade and reports that his former coach and general manager Bill O’Brien didn’t want to grant him a raise. Hopkins had three years and $39.9 million remaining on a five-year deal he signed with Houston, but reportedly sought a deal to raise his pay alongside other elite wide receivers. His new contract does just that.
Now he has his extension, and he saved money in the negotiating process by eschewing the help of an agent. According to Rapoport, Hopkins negotiated the deal on his own.
He appears to be pleased with the news.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone. pic.twitter.com/F6JRljSFcs
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) September 8, 2020
Hopkins, 28, is coming off his fourth career Pro Bowl season and his third straight as an All-Pro. He marks a significant upgrade to an offense that was entering 2020 with high hopes behind second-year quarterback and 2019 offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray.
He joins a wide receiver corps featuring future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald and third-year standout Christian Kirk.
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