The Ravens see the identical DeAndre Hopkins on the sector they confronted for years, however now he has to show it to the remainder of the league. Now 33 and in his thirteenth season, how a lot does he have left within the tank? Should you ask HC John Harbaugh, he’ll let you know, it’s rather a lot but, which is why they signed him.
“It’s simply the skillset”, he mentioned, through the Ravens’ web site, when requested about what he has seen from Hopkins. “He’s the identical man, [and he] does the identical issues actually, very well”. Harbaugh in contrast him to Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason, two different former Ravens who discovered their option to Baltimore through free company.
A former first-round decide, DeAndrew Hopkins is a five-time Professional Bowler and five-time All-Professional, twice a finalist for Offensive Participant of the Yr. He’s closing on 1,000 profession receptions and 13,000 yards, presently at 83 touchdowns. However he’s additionally coming off a reasonably pedestrian season.
In 16 video games in 2024, Hopkins caught 56 passes on 80 targets for 610 yards and 5 touchdowns. He performed six video games for the Titans earlier than being traded to the Chiefs, logging one other 10. His manufacturing lagged in Tennessee, however he scored 4 touchdowns in Kansas Metropolis. Throughout their postseason run, he caught solely three passes, however one for a landing.
Even when he his previous his prime, DeAndre Hopkins continues to be a bodily specimen. Fellow Clemson alumn, CB Nate Wiggins, discovered that out the arduous approach lately, as Harbaugh recounted. The younger nook got here as much as his coach and requested him what he may have finished otherwise.
“’Truthfully, Nate, there’s nothing you could possibly have finished higher’”, Harbaugh mentioned of how he suggested Wiggins about protecting Hopkins. “That was an amazing throw and an amazing catch by most likely arguably among the finest who’s ever finished it’”.
The Ravens have already got Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman at vast receiver. Even DeAndre Hopkins sees the expertise they’ve—however he additionally informed them he noticed a bit lacking. And he questioned if he won’t be that piece, the addition that places them excessive.
Baltimore has been unable to get excessive in over a decade. Since drafting Lamar Jackson in 2018, the Ravens have solely reached the convention finals as soon as, by no means the Tremendous Bowl. That’s a good shout nearer than the Steelers have come, granted. As for Hopkins, he by no means even obtained that far till the superior to the Tremendous Bowl final season with the Chiefs, although they in the end misplaced to the Eagles. That’s all of the extra incentive for him to verify he fills in that lacking piece, regardless of the form.
