4 reasons the NY Jets should try to sign DeAndre Hopkins

3. DeAndre Hopkins is still a great player

Contrary to what many seem to believe, DeAndre Hopkins has still been one of the most productive wide receivers in football when on the field in recent years.

Hopkins was on pace for 120 catches and over 1,350 yards last season despite playing the majority of the year with Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley at quarterback.

In just nine games, Hopkins recorded 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns. Maybe he's not a top-three receiver as he was in his prime, but Hopkins is still a bonafide No. 1 wideout and one of the most physically dominant receivers in the NFL.

The biggest issue with him has been availability — and that's a legitimate concern. Hopkins has appeared in just 19 of a possible 34 games over the last two seasons due to injuries and a suspension.

Hopkins missed seven games in 2021 as a result of both hamstring and MCL injuries. He was suspended for the first six games of the 2022 season after violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy and missed the final two games of the year due to a minor knee injury.

It's fair to be concerned about Hopkins' availability issues. That said, the injury concerns might be a bit overblown.

Hopkins was the model of durability over the first eight years of his career, missing just two games. Since then, he's had a pair of relatively minor knee injuries and a hamstring strain. That's not exactly indicative of a major trend.

Hopkins is still playing at a very high level and should come at a bargain on the open market. More on that in a moment.