TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals released three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a salary-cap move Friday after they failed to find a trading partner in the offseason.
The Cardinals made the move three seasons after acquiring Hopkins in a trade with Houston and signing him to a $54.5 million contract extension. The soon-to-be 31-year-old Hopkins would have counted close to $31 million against the cap this season.
His cap hit in dead money is $22.6 million.
Hopkins had 221 catches for 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns in 35 games with Arizona. His most famous catch was a last-second heave from Kyler Murray to the end zone against the Buffalo Bills in 2020 that became known as “Hail Murray.”
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HAIL MURRAY 🙌
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2021
One year ago today, Kyler and DeAndre Hopkins connected for the game-winning TD against the Bills.
(via @AZCardinals) pic.twitter.com/6YoDckellc
Hopkins had a franchise-record 115 catches for 1,407 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first season with the Cardinals but he missed seven games in the second season with knee and hamstring injuries and the first six games of last season while serving a six-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.