The Arizona Cardinals released five-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Friday.
Hopkins had a cap hit of $30.75 million for this upcoming season, which would have made him extremely pricey for the Patriots to pursue. It was the most expensive cap hit for an NFL wide receiver, and No. 7 overall among NFL players.
But now that he’s been released, the Cardinals will save north of eight million while absorbing $22.6 million in a dead cap hit, according to ESPN.
That makes the prospect of New England signing Hopkins seem more reasonable, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic.