NY Jets considered a 'top landing spot' for DeAndre Hopkins

Justin Fried

NY Jets, DeAndre Hopkins / Norm Hall/GettyImages

The NY Jets aren't necessarily seen as the favorites to sign DeAndre Hopkins now that the three-time All-Pro wide receiver has been released, but many believe they could still be in the mix.

The Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs have most frequently been connected to Hopkins rumors for months now. That said, now that Hopkins is a free agent, other teams might have more interest.

The Jets make sense as a potential landing spot too. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler labeled them as one of the "best fits" for Hopkins in free agency, while Bleacher Report's Joseph Zucker referred to the Jets as a "top potential landing spot" in a recent article.

It's clear that there's some smoke around Hopkins and the Jets, although what's not clear is how much interest either side has in a potential union.

DeAndre Hopkins makes a ton of sense for the NY Jets

Even at 30 years old, Hopkins is still one of the best and most productive wide receivers in football. He was on pace for a 120-catch, 1,350-yard season in 2022, although he only appeared in nine games due to a suspension at the start of the year.

He did that while playing with some of the worst quarterback play in the NFL following Kyler Murray's injury. Hopkins is still playing at a very high level, and if the Jets are committed to contending for a Super Bowl this season, these are the moves the team should look to make.

The Jets have already shown that they're in the market to potentially add another offensive playmaker. The team heavily pursued Odell Beckham Jr. before he opted to sign with the Baltimore Ravens.

Garrett Wilson is a star, but the rest of the Jets' wide receiver corps isn't particularly inspiring. Allen Lazard, Corey Davis, and Mecole Hardman are all capable receivers, but the Jets could really use another true difference-maker on offense.

Hopkins would give them just that. On top of that, signing Hopkins would prevent a division rival from possibly signing him, not to mention a team like the Chiefs, who the Jets need to contend with if they're to make a run at the Super Bowl.

The Jets don't necessarily need Hopkins, but there's no doubt that he would make them better. The flexibility in Corey Davis' contract means that the Jets can absolutely make it work from a financial standpoint as well.

They may not be the favorites but don't be surprised if the Jets push to sign DeAndre Hopkins now that he's a free agent.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.