After 12 seasons in the NFL, defensive end J.J. Watt recently announced his retirement.
He was one of the league’s best pass rushers for many years, first with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 and 2022.
His last two seasons were spent playing with star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who is reportedly likely to be traded soon.
The latest rumor is that Hopkins could be headed to the New England Patriots, especially after he started following quarterback Mac Jones on Instagram.
Watt said on the “Pat McAfee Show” that Hopkins is at the point of his career where he simply wants to play on a winning team.
“DHop is at a point in his career where he just wants to go somewhere that he can win”@JJWatt #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/lmyvm3V1Ku
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 17, 2023
The Cardinals certainly weren’t a winning team last season, as they finished 4-13, which led to a head coaching change.
With QB Kyler Murray’s status for the start of the 2023 campaign in question because of a torn ACL, Hopkins may be better off going somewhere else.
The Patriots have already made a splash this offseason by adding wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is coming off a season in which he had 933 yards and won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.
They also brought in tight end Mike Gesicki, who spent five seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
If Hopkins does end up getting traded to New England, he would give Mac Jones the skill players needed to tap into what some feel is some immense potential.
Jones’ numbers dipped in 2022, and if he isn’t able to play at a very high level with Smith-Schuster and Hopkins at his side, then it will become clear that he simply won’t be the franchise QB the Patriots have been hoping he would be.
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Cardinals WR Calls Out His Teammate Over Kyler Murray Criticism