We’ve seen it time and time again. A veteran receiver hits the market and the Baltimore Ravens snaps him up. Names like Steve Smith Sr., Anquan Boldin, and Derrick Mason come to mind when this subject is broached. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh hope future Hall of Famer DeAndre Hopkins can be the next veteran to aid the franchise.
Hopkins brings a resume that includes 984 receptions, 12,965 yards, and 83 touchdowns. He had 56 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns last season with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.
The 32-year-old wideout believes his game can still be effective despite being on the backend of his career.
“I would say how I’m able to get open. I’ve never been a 4.3 or 4.4 [40-yard dash] guy, but I’m able to make plays on the ball and get open, and contested catches,” Hopkins said. ”I feel like that’s been something that I’ve been able to excel in. And I would say my knowledge of defenses as well. Playing 13 years in the NFL, you learn defensive coverages and how to get open, and you kind of know what the defense is doing, sometimes pre-snap.”
The current receiver room is led by Zay Flowers, who’s only entering his third season. Last season, Flowers was the first Ravens receiver to be named to the Pro Bowl. An injury kept him out of the playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. But fellow young wideout Rashad Bateman filled in with a key touchdown.
Hopkins is looking forward to fitting in with the young wideout and offering them his wealth of knowledge after 12 years in the NFL. It’s not just the receivers that Hopkins is looking forward to working with. A big part of why he joined the Ravens was quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“I think Lamar [Jackson] being the leader of this team is part of the reason that I came here. What he stands for and how he led this team and this organization to the playoffs in multiple years, and since he’s been here, just how he’s led any receiver group he’s had. So, I think that played a big part of me coming here,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins will be reunited with former Titans teammate Derrick Henry. He signed with the Titans in 2023 to join forces with Henry. The results didn’t follow but the experience was great for both of them.
The two trained together in Dallas during the offseason. Hopkins said he’s inspired by Henry’s ability to play a physically demanding position like running back at a high level despite his age.
About five years ago, Hopkins was at an event with Jackson and Henry. He was still with the Arizona Cardinals at the time. Jackson of course, was the Ravens quarterback and Henry was leading the Tennessee Titans offense. The three posed for a picture and Hopkins posted it on social media with the caption, “How many touchdowns would this trio score?”
Well, we’re about to find out.
“Hopefully, it will be enough to win a lot of games and win the games we need to win. I don’t have a number, but hopefully more than a little bit,” Hopkins said.