Anyone counting on DeAndre Hopkins to be the true, bluechip No. 1 wide receiver the Baltimore Ravens has sought for years, should recalibrate their expectations.
That’s according to an ominous warning about Hopkins being a bust. The significant note of caution comes from Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who believes a person “expecting Hopkins to significantly transform Baltimore’s offense—or to become fantasy-relevant—is likely to be disappointed.”
Knox pointed out “Hopkins is a 33-year-old possession receiver who had 610 receiving yards last season and is now joining a run-heavy offense. He may make the occasional splash play as Lamar Jackson’s fourth or fifth target, but it feels like the five-time Pro Bowler is simply along for the ride.”
Those are harsh words about a three-time first-team All-Pro with seven 1,000-yard seasons to his credit. Hopkins may not be quite the force he once was, but the veteran entering his 13th year is still a skilled and savvy target who offers exciting new possibilities for two-time NFL MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Some of those glimpses were tantalizingly obvious during OTAs and minicamp, indicating Hopkins is ready to defy his critics. He also has some extra motivation after being on the losing end in last season’s Super Bowl, before joining a Ravens team with realistic championship hopes.
DeAndre Hopkins Preparing to Answer Critics
Hopkins has already sent a message to the doubters that he’s lost none of his speed. Sure, it was only OTAs, but the way the enduring skills of a 30-something receiver caught the eyes of teammates spoke volumes about the way Hopkins prepares.
More than the ability still being there, Hopkins also offered proof his well-earned reputation as a maker of tough catches can still be justified. This grab of a ball thrown high by Jackson is the first hint of what might be in store from their potentially magic connection.
A catch like this shows how the very thing Knox cited as a reason to worry about Hopkins, his possession-style game, is the exact reason he can thrive in Baltimore. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken can design a fluid role for Hopkins, enabling him to line up anywhere to ensure the best matchups for where his skill-set is at this stage of his career.
Monken’s task will be easier thanks to how the Ravens already use tight ends, and how it compares to where Hopkins can do the most damage against coverage. Namely, inside the numbers and from the slot, where he played 118 snaps last season, per Player Profiler.
Those factors, along with Jackson’s continued maturation as a passer, mean Hopkins is primed to be anything but a bust in 2025. Instead, he can seize the legitimate opportunity the Ravens have given him to add the one thing still missing from his CV.
Ravens Newest WR Has Point to Prove After Super Bowl Heartbreak
Being a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and experiencing the 40-22 thumping at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in last season’s Super Bowl, left Hopkins with unfinished business.
He snatched a consolation score in that game, but the wideout with solid Hall of Fame credentials needs a Lombardi Trophy to firm up his case for enshrinement. The Ravens need a title to reward the team they’ve put together in recent years, a talented group, but one with a nasty habit of falling short in the playoffs.
Jackson doesn’t want to be a nearly quarterback, so he’ll need the best of what Hopkins has left to help put the Ravens over the top. It can happen because Hopkins is an excellent scheme fit for what the Ravens already do on offense, and they don’t need him to be the main man.
Not when young pass-catchers like Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely are all becoming prolific playmakers. Making the Ravens the ideal environment for a decorated veteran like Hopkins to succeed with less pressure.
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