DeAndre Hopkins' thoughts on playing with Lamar Jackson from 2023 interview

Mike Moraitis

DeAndre Hopkins' thoughts on playing with Lamar Jackson from 2023 interview image

The Baltimore Ravens strengthened their wide receivers room on the second day of the legal tampering of NFL free agency after the team reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

The soon-to-be 33-year-old wide receiver came at a very reasonable price. ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Hopkins' one-year pact is worth up to $6 million.

Hopkins now joins a wide receivers room that also includes Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, which gives quarterback Lamar Jackson a strong trio at the position. Lest we forget, Jackson also has tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, assuming Baltimore doesn't cut or trade the former for cap purposes.

Just in case you were wondering, Hopkins is a huge fan of Jackson. We know that because he heaped praise on the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player in a 2023 interview on the "I Am Athlete" podcast.

"(Jackson is) one of the greats. I would be lying to sit here and say it wouldn’t be an honor one day... to play with a great guy and a great quarterback like Lamar," Hopkins said.

Hopkins divvied up his 2024 season between two teams, first playing in six games for the Tennessee Titans before he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he posted 41 catches for 437 yards and four touchdowns in 10 regular season games.

At his age, Hopkins isn't likely to recapture his past elite status, and making that more difficult will be the fact that the Ravens now have several talented pass-catchers and sport a run-heavy offense with Derrick Henry.

But the Ravens needed to give their superstar quarterback another viable weapon to throw to, and Hopkins is still very much that. This was a strong move for a Ravens team that has been mostly quiet early on in free agency.

MORE NFL NEWS

NFL free agency grades: Live analysis of every signing and trade

NFL free agency tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades

Top-75 players available in NFL free agency

Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.