DeAndre Hopkins Contract: Latest News, Rumors on WR's Negotiations with Texans

Mike ChiariJul 23, 2016

On the heels of a career season in 2015, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is hopeful that he can reach a long-term deal to remain with the Houston Texans.

Continue for updates.

Hopkins Comments on Contract Negotiations

Saturday, Aug. 6

“It’s not something I sit here [and] think about," Hopkins said, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. "What goes on off the field works itself out."

Smith Comments on Hopkins Negotiations

Saturday, Aug. 6

"There is not a negotiation happening at this point," Texans general manager Rick Smith said, per Rapoport . "He's under contract for 2 more years."

"We are disappointed DeAndre has elected not to report to training camp with the rest of his teammates," Smith said regarding Hopkins' brief holdout on July 30, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. "He has expressed his position regarding his contract status, and we have been clear with both he and his representatives of ours. Our focus is on the 2016 season and all of our collective efforts and attention with be centered on that endeavor."

Per Tania Ganguli, formerly of ESPN.com, Smith is hopeful Hopkins' tenure in Houston will last well beyond that: "D-Hop is really, really emerging into one of the better wide receivers in the league, and you're right, we exercised the option so this isn't his last year. He certainly is one of those guys that we're going to keep around here for a long time hopefully. He's working hard."

Texans Player Comments on Hopkins' Relationship with Team

Wednesday, Aug. 3

An anonymous Texans player said Hopkins' relationship with the team is "borderline poisonous," per Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman.

Hopkins Ends Holdout

Monday, Aug. 1

Hopkins announced his return to the Texans on Sunday in a statement, courtesy of Ganguli:

While Hopkins noted in his statement he would speak to the media Sunday, he didn't speak until Monday, when he talked about the direction of the contract negotiations between his representatives and the team, per ESPN.com's Ben Dubose:

"
They handle that. All I do is go out here and play football. I let them do the negotiating. ...
I wasn't trying to send a message or anything like that. I was doing what I felt like was best for me and my family.
"

Schefter and Ganguli reported Saturday that Hopkins was unhappy with his contract, did not report to camp and would hold out because Houston had declined to negotiate a new deal. Schefter reported he "will be subject to fines of $40,000 for each day missed." Ganguli reported that "Hopkins stopped by the facility [Friday] night for some errands but didn't report for camp and didn't tell anyone his plans."

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported that "Hopkins' contract won't [be] redone with [two] years left." McClain noted the "Texans redo contracts with [one] year left. Only [J.J. Watt] did it with [two] left."

Hopkins has a $445,000 roster bonus coming Aug. 4 if he is on the 90-man roster, noted ESPN's Field Yates, who added Hopkins misses it if he's on reserve/did not report list on that date.

Hopkins talked about his contract situation July 26, per Ganguli:

"
I just want to be treated for what I'm worth. That's fair to say, right? ... I love this city. I don't want to play anywhere else but here. So the rest will work itself out, hopefully.
"

Texans Owner Comments on Hopkins' Return

Monday, Aug. 1

"I'm happy that he's back," Texans owner Bob McNair told McClain. "I think it's in his best interest for him to be here. We'll deal with his contract at the proper time. We take care of our players and we'll take care of him."

O'Brien Comments on Hopkins' Holdout

Sunday, July 31

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for DeAndre," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien told reporters. "When he comes back, he'll be thrown back in there."

Hopkins Among Elite NFL WRs

Hopkins was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time last season, and he set career bests with 111 receptions for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Hopkins will remain with the Texans through at least the 2017 season since the franchise exercised its fifth-year option on the 2013 first-round pick out of Clemson.

Hopkins has never missed a game in his three-year NFL career, and he's shown marked improvement with each passing season.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his performance in 2015 was the fact that he put up monster numbers with Brian Hoyer throwing him the football.

The Texans are hopeful free-agent signee Brock Osweiler will turn out to be a far better option under center. If that's the case, then Hopkins has a huge opportunity to boost his value even more over the next couple of seasons.

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