The Broncos can upgrade their offense by trading for DeAndre Hopkins

Denver needs game breakers on offense, something that was missing a lot this season, which would make the Cardinals wideout very intriguing

BY JAMES MERILATT

Jan 10, 2023, 5:19 PM Updated: Jan 11, 2023, 9:59 am

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For most of the 2022 season, the Broncos offense was anemic. In terms of yards per game, they were middle of the pack, finishing 21st in the NFL with 325.1 per game. But when it came to scoring, they were dead last, averaging just 16.9 points per game.

It’s not hard to figure out why. For large stretches of the season, Denver was fielding a team with subpar skill position players.

With all due respect to Kendall Hinton, Brandon Johnson and Freddie Swain, those wideouts are practice squad players on most teams. Latavius Murray, Marlon Mack and Tyler Badie lined up in the backfield, after bouncing around the league. Greg Dulcich was a rookie tight end, while Albert Okwuegbunam was stuck in the coach’s doghouse most of the season.

Oftentimes, Russell Wilson didn’t have a lot to work with. The quarterback wasn’t exactly surrounded by stars throughout the season.

In part, this was because of injuries. Tim Patrick was lost for the season during training camp, while Javonte Williams was shelved after getting hurt in Week 4. Jerry Jeudy also missed time with various ailments, as did Courtland Sutton.

That said, none of those players are big-time threats. They don’t keep opposing defensive coordinators awake at night.

Sure, Jeudy finished the season strong. His 154-yard performance in the finale, as well as his three-touchdown outing in the first game against the Chiefs, were encouraging signs. Maybe the former first-round pick can develop into something more than he’s been thus far in his career. But there’s no guarantee of that happening.

Meanwhile, Sutton had another underwhelming year, still showing signs that he’s not the same player after suffering a knee injury in 2020. He averaged just 55.3 yards per game, while only catching a pair of touchdowns.

The reality is that the Broncos need a big-play threat. They need a WR1. They need someone who stretches the defense and opens things up for other receivers, as well as the running game.

Rather than try to find that type of player in the draft, Denver should take the route followed by Las Vegas, Miami and Philadelphia last offseason. Those teams acquired Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown, respectively, pairing them with other weapons to make their offense even more explosive.

If the Broncos are looking to go this way, there’s a marquee player on the market. According to reports, the Cardinals are ready to move on from one of the NFL’s best wideouts.

DeAndre Hopkins on the move this offseason? 👀 pic.twitter.com/O661JBok3z

— PFF (@PFF) January 10, 2023

Hopkins only played in nine games this season, after serving a six-game suspension for PEDs. In that limited action, however, the 30-year-old receiver did catch 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns. A lot of that was done with a hodgepodge of quarterbacks, after Kyler Murray was injured and Arizona was forced to go with Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley behind center.

In his first five games of the season, Hopkins thrived. He had 45 catches for 493 yards and two scores. That’s elite-level production.

He’d be the best offensive player on the Broncos roster, by a relatively large margin. And his presence would make everyone else better.

When healthy, Denver’s receiving corp would consist of Hopkins, Jeudy, Patrick, Sutton and K.J. Hamler. Bring back Murray to pair with Williams in the backfield. Keep developing Dulcich and Okwuegbunam. And watch Wilson start to cook.

Despite a strong final two games of the season, the Broncos offense still needs a jumpstart. Trading for DeAndre Hopkins would be the perfect way to accomplish that task.

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