After a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, the veteran wide receiver will aim to provide Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens with what could be the “missing piece” to finally lead them to the promised land. Things change suddenly from one year to the next, and after sharing the field with Patrick Mahomes, he turns his back on him and becomes one of his main rivals in the AFC.
This marks the 13th season for the veteran in the NFL, and while he may not be at his peak, we believe he still has enough gas in the tank to help a franchise that is one of the most dominant in the league.
Is DeAndre Hopkins the missing piece for the Ravens?
When he arrived in Baltimore during this offseason, Hopkins was asked about his outside perspective on the Ravens, and his response was surprising.
“It seems like there’s been a piece that’s been missing,” Hopkins said, per ESPN‘s Jamison Hensley. “I could be that addition. I could not be that addition.”
At 33 years old, we all know DeAndre Hopkins has been the No. 1 receiver on every team he’s played for, but it seems that will change for the upcoming season, as Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman have secured the top two spots.
Under this scenario, Hopkins will serve as a third option, capable of battling for contested catches, one of his strengths throughout his long career.
On the other hand, building a bond of trust with the team’s star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, will take time.
“I don’t think it’s a [set] time frame,” Hopkins said. “A guy like Lamar, who’s a veteran quarterback, he’s played a lot of football. Myself, I play a lot of football. We see things differently, but I’ve had rookie quarterbacks that have taken longer. So, it differs.”
Upon arriving in Baltimore, DeAndre Hopkins became a direct threat to the Kansas City Chiefs, his last team, which he helped reach their third consecutive Super Bowl, though it ended in the worst way with a painful loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hopkins is coming off a season where he played 10 games with Kansas City, recording 437 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
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