Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ signing of free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins:
Brian Wacker, reporter: General manager Eric DeCosta said this offseason that the Ravens usually don’t make a lot of “splashes” in free agency, but for the second year in a row they did just that. After adding running back Derrick Henry last offseason, Baltimore agreed to a low-cost, one-year deal with five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. While Hopkins, who will turn 33 in June, is past his prime and won’t have near the impact Henry did, he gives Lamar Jackson a mature and dependable weapon on an offense that was already No. 1 in the NFL last season.
Baltimore also desperately needed reinforcements at the position with a thin group beyond Pro Bowl selection Zay Flowers and the highly talented but mercurial Rashod Bateman. This isn’t the Odell Beckham Jr. move of two years ago, either. Hopkins had 56 catches for 610 yards and five touchdowns between the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and lousy Tennessee Titans last season, and in 2023 had 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns for Tennessee. He won’t put up big numbers on a Baltimore team that has plenty of mouths to feed, but he doesn’t need to. His strength is in his reliable hands, ability to catch passes in traffic and near the goal line and to be a trusty, seasoned target.
Childs Walker, reporter: DeAndre Hopkins isn’t Derrick Henry. He’s five years removed from his All-Pro peak and unlikely to fill up the stat sheet game after game. But the Ravens needed a third wide receiver to complement Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. They needed a guy to help Lamar Jackson by making contested catches on third down and especially in the end zone. Hopkins demonstrated that he can still be that player in his run with the Chiefs last season. He has also been durable the last two years after missing a total of 15 games in 2021 and 2022. He comes at a reasonable price, just as his former teammate, Henry, did last March.
This was exactly the type of targeted strike the Ravens needed to make after the initial rush of free agency began to calm. Hopkins’ name might be bigger than his production in 2025, but that’s not a problem for a team that doesn’t need him to be a star. He’ll be an overqualified role player on the most efficient offense in football, perfect for a guy approaching his 33rd birthday.
Sam Cohn, reporter: This signing feels more akin to when the Ravens got Odell Beckham Jr., rather than Diontae Johnson. Hopkins is a veteran receiver past his prime who still warrants attention from a defense and has played in a Super Bowl. Will he explode playing with Lamar Jackson? Unlikely. But Hopkins’ 2024 regular-season numbers with the Titans and Chiefs were comparable with Mark Andrews’ yards and catch totals. On a one-year deal, he figures to be a legitimate complement to Flowers and Bateman. He showed no signs of needing to be the top target in Kansas City, and the 32-year-old told ESPN earlier this year that “playing meaningful football in January is what’s left on the list.” Presumably, the Ravens are thinking the same thing.
C.J. Doon, editor: Yes, he’s 32, but even a diminished version of DeAndre Hopkins is a pretty exciting addition to this Ravens offense. Baltimore has long sought a big “X” receiver who can win on the outside, and the 6-1, 212-pound Hopkins is one of the most decorated in recent NFL history. The biggest question is whether he can still beat man coverage as an isolated target. Hopkins is not going to be a downfield burner at this stage of his career, but he showed in Kansas City that he can still win on quick slants over the middle and in-breaking routes. Given his experience and physical traits, he’s a great complement to younger, faster wideouts Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and provides the kind of red zone threat that Lamar Jackson simply hasn’t had before. The Ravens’ offense was already a nightmare matchup, and it’s become even more of a headache for opposing defenses with a veteran receiver who still has something left in the tank.
Tim Schwartz, editor: It’s might be a few years late, but DeAndre Hopkins and the Ravens have long felt like a good match. He’s not the superstar wideout anymore, but he can still carve out a solid role in Baltimore. He can still go up and get it, and that big-body, jump-ball receiver will always have a place in the pass-happy NFL. Why not take a shot and see if you can catch lightning in a bottle a few Sundays this fall? It fills a need and Hopkins can still put on a show from time to time, too. This move just makes sense.
Bennett Conlin, editor: Hopkins isn’t the All-Pro he was during his prime, but he’s still a productive veteran. Last season’s trade for Diontae Johnson ended up being a mistake, as Johnson seemed more focused on individual production than the team’s success. The Ravens shouldn’t have that issue with Hopkins, who is well-respected by his peers and should fit in well in Baltimore’s locker room. Like Lamar Jackson, Hopkins is still chasing his first Super Bowl title. Given the reasonable price of the deal, this is a solid signing for Baltimore to add a hungry veteran with above-average upside. Hopkins won’t drastically change the team’s outlook, but he gives Jackson another reliable target and adds veteran leadership.
Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13.