DeAndre Hopkins Pops Back Up on Vikings Radar
When Kyler Murray signed with the Minnesota Vikings, his former teammate and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins publicly stated that he’d like to join him in the Twin Cities. Fast forward a month, and that theory remains alive in the Vikings’ rumor orbit.
Minnesota could revisit Hopkins if WR3 remains unsettled.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling name-dropped Hopkins as a WR solution for the Vikings after the draft. It might just happen.
The Case for a Veteran Addition after the Draft
A low-cost veteran could still make sense in the spot.
Goessling on Hopkins
Goessling joined Paul Allen’s show on KFAN this week, and Allen asked: “So the Jalen Nailor spot, do the Vikings want a veteran wide receiver … or do you think O’Connell and the gang are sitting on something sneaky they love in the draft?”
He replied, “I’m going to answer that yes — to both. I think, if they could find a veteran — I mean, DeAndre Hopkins’ name has come up. If you could get a guy in here like a Hopkins, that has rapport with Kyler Murray — it depends on what he wants to play for, it depends on what he wants his role to be.”
It’s worth noting that Goessling is plugged into all things Vikings; the Hopkins angle isn’t his personal preference.
The Career Numbers
Hopkins entered the league in 2015 and quickly established himself as an elite receiver, posting impressive numbers early in his career. However, his usage has declined in recent seasons.
Here’s a breakdown of his stats year by year:
2015 — HOU: 111 Rec | 1,521 Yds | 11 TDs
2016 — HOU: 78 Rec | 954 Yds | 4 TDs
2017 — HOU: 96 Rec | 1,378 Yds | 13 TDs
2018 — HOU: 115 Rec | 1,572 Yds | 11 TDs
2019 — HOU: 104 Rec | 1,165 Yds | 7 TDs
2020 — ARI: 115 Rec | 1,407 Yds | 6 TDs
2021 — ARI: 42 Rec | 572 Yds | 8 TDs
2022 — ARI: 64 Rec | 717 Yds | 3 TDs
2023 — TEN: 75 Rec | 1,057 Yds | 7 TDs
2024 — KC/TEN: 56 Rec | 610 Yds | 5 TDs
2025 — BAL: 22 Rec | 330 Yds | 2 TDs
In his early career, Hopkins was a true WR1, consistently commanding high volume and producing efficiently. However, his recent seasons suggest a transition to a complementary role with diminished targets.
In 2025, Baltimore targeted him only 39 times, a surprisingly low number for a player of his pedigree. This usage pattern mirrors that of a WR3, similar to Nailor’s role in Minnesota. His combined 2024 statistics with Kansas City and Tennessee further reinforce this trend.
Although a reunion with Murray could be advantageous, Hopkins’ recent performance indicates he is likely trending toward a supporting role rather than reclaiming his position as a primary receiving option. The WR3 or WR4 post in Minnesota checks that box.
On Hopkins .. Why Not?
So long as Hopkins doesn’t ask to break the bank — he probably won’t — there’s really no downside to signing him this offseason. Minnesota needs a WR3, and there’s a world where Hopkins has the chops for it. Or — the team could sign as an option for WR3, and if a youngster topples him at training camp, there’s no harm done.
Throughout his career, Hopkins has excelled in the redzone. It’s probably a safe bet to assume that quality is “one of the last to go.” Therefore, at the very least, the Vikings could sign Hopkins under the pretense that his redzone efficiency would bolster the offense.
Minnesota can probably pay him $2 million or $3 million and call it good.
The Viking Age‘s Brad Berreman noted on Hopkins a couple of weeks ago, “It seems like he has told Murray he wants to be a Viking, and the Vikings have also been told that via Murray and/or separately by his agent. So the ball is fully in the Vikings’ court. The cost to sign Hopkins surely won’t be prohibitive, or more than a one-year deal.”
“The loss of Jalen Nailor in free agency also leaves an obvious void at WR3, and some people are lightly campaigning to fill the void. Hopkins, even past his prime, is a known quantity who has a notable history with Murray.”
Nailor Gone and the Felton Show
The Vikings are in this spot — having Hopkins in their rumor mill — because the aforementioned Nailor left in free agency. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, the city where he was raised, and might even be on tap for WR1 duty with Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza, and friends. The Raiders possess one of the NFL’s very worst WR crops, thrusting Nailor to the top of the depth chart.
After Nailor left, the Vikings signed no replacements. They’ll hope either Tai Felton, a rookie who barely played on offense last year, will mature into a WR3 this summer, or they’ll draft another youngster sometime early in next week’s draft.
According to Goessling, Minnesota will likely do both — draft a wideout before the end of the draft and ink a veteran like Hopkins. The plan would make sense for Kevin O’Connell’s pass-happy offense.
The NFL draft is eight days away, with Minnesota holding nine selections before any trades.
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