The Arizona Cardinals will probably be with out their DeAndre Hopkins for the primary six video games of the 2022 season. Hopkins was busted for taking Efficiency Enhancing Medicine (PEDs) and was handed a suspension from the league on Monday. Whereas Kyler Murray’s relationship with the staff is uneasy, the lack of Hopkins is very large.
Nevertheless, NFL analyst Kyle Brandt thinks Murray will profit contractually from DeAndre Hopkins’ suspension. On Tuesday’s episode of Good Morning Soccer, Brandt stated the Cardinals might really feel pressured into giving Murray the contract extension and cash he is demanded this offseason. Brandt stated:
“I feel the suspension would possibly assist him receives a commission. It does not harm for those who’re going into camp. And we’re like, ‘oh my god is Kyler perhaps not going to point out up, and we do not have DeAndre? What product are we placing on the sector? Perhaps we gotta give Kyler 40 million bucks a season to simply get him in right here as a result of like, we wish to go to the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months. This isn’t a constructing 12 months. That is the go time 12 months.”
Brandt is correct when saying that even with out DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals view themselves as Tremendous Bowl contenders.
Arizona Cardinals futures following DeAndre Hopkins’ suspension. Pre-Suspension: +2500: Tremendous Bowl +1200: Win the NFCPost-Suspension: +2500: Tremendous Bowl +1200: Win the NFC https://t.co/pSQFXDou6P
If Murray holds out or does not present up by the beginning of the season, Arizona will probably be in deep trouble. Subsequently, paying him (even when it is reluctantly) can be a technique to salvage the season. Brandt stated:
“So within the chess match of all this, understanding for a undeniable fact that our star large receiver is out for six weeks. The concept we’d additionally not have our star quarterback if he holds out. We are able to’t deal with this, I feel we have to get Kyler in right here.’”
Brandt could also be onto one thing, because the Cardinals appear nearer to an extension for Murray than ever. Cardinals normal supervisor Steve Keim was on the Wealthy Eisen Present Monday and stated he is planning to get Murray’s extension performed this summer time.
To conclude his level, Brandt used an analogy of marriage counseling to depict the connection between DeAndre Hopkins, Murray, and the Cardinals. Brandt stated:
“It is like within the counseling factor with Kyler and the staff being the husband and spouse. DeAndre is like the child who acquired arrested or one thing or had some points. They need to spend extra time with him, and it may well carry you nearer as a husband and spouse. I feel that this really would possibly assist Kyler together with his contract.”
The Cardinals collapsed within the 2021 season with out DeAndre Hopkins
Cardinals followers obtained flashbacks to their staff’s collapse within the 2021 season when Hopkins suffered an harm. The Cardinals had been 8-2 to start out final season and had been pegged as Tremendous Bowl favorites and favorites to win the NFC West.
DeAndre Hopkins had 572 receiving yards and eight touchdowns earlier than struggling the season-ending knee harm that sunk the Cardinals’ season. They completed under .500% the remainder of the season and had an embarrassing first-round exit within the playoffs.
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The Cardinals addressed the place by buying and selling for Baltimore Ravens large receiver Marquise Brown. Time will inform whether or not Brown, Zack Ertz, and James Conner will have the ability to step up rather than Hopkins till he returns.
