Arizona Cardinals

The NFL announced Monday that it has suspended Arizona Cardinals star DeAndre Hopkins for six games following a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Doug Sanders, Hopkins' brand manager, issued a statement Monday night, noting the receiver's camp is testing every product he has used to determine what caused the positive test:

DeAndre Hopkins’ brand manager, Doug Sanders, texted this tonight about his client, who was suspended six games earlier in the day: pic.twitter.com/gHlZMKrSQM

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 3, 2022

Hopkins later issued a statement of his own, in which he apologized to the Cardinals and their fans:

https://twitter.com/DeAndreHopkins/status/1521301792176283649

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news of the suspension.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Hopkins withdrew his appeal, making the ban official.

Depending on when the team might have been made aware of an impending ban for the three-time All-Pro, this could provide more context behind Arizona's trade for Marquise "Hollywood" Brown from the Baltimore Ravens.

Hopkins will have missed 10 straight regular-season games by the time he's eligible to suit back up for the Cardinals. He missed Arizona's last four contest as well as the team's NFC Wild Card Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams because of a knee sprain. A hamstring injury had also sidelined him for three weeks in November.

Not surprisingly, the offense suffered a big drop when the veteran pass-catcher was unavailable.

Cardinals With & Without DeAndre Hopkins
Last Season Including Playoffs
With Without
W-L 8-2 3-5
PPG 30.2 19.8 pic.twitter.com/v4fW3XlUaA

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) May 2, 2022

In addition to acquiring Brown, the Cardinals selected Colorado State tight end Trey McBride in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

At the time, it looked like the organization was working to appease Kyler Murray amid the quarterback's reported contract standoff.

Kyler Murray may argue he's lacking a new contract but he's certainly not lacking weapons in Arizona..Trey McBride joins Zach Ertz in the TE room to go along with several WRs (Hopkins, Green, Brown, Moore, Isabella) & RB James Conner #NFLDraft

— Lance Medow (@LanceMedow) April 30, 2022

Instead, the Cardinals might have been fortifying their passing game to account for the fact that Hopkins will miss more than a third of the season.

It also might be fair to wonder whether Hopkins' long-term future in Arizona is now in jeopardy.

The 29-year-old is signed through the 2024 season after signing a two-year, $54.5 million extension in 2020.

Moving on in 2023 wouldn't be financially prohibitive for the team, though. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut next offseason would add $9.1 million as dead money in 2023 and 2024 but save the team $21.7 million, per Spotrac.

Regardless of what happens with Hopkins, Brown is likely to emerge as a big winner from this situation.

The 2019 first-round pick explained how he requested an exit from Baltimore, in part because of his usage within the Ravens offense.

Brown might now be the No. 1 receiving option on a team that averaged the fourth-most passing yards per attempt (7.8) and 10th-most yards per game (251.5). After eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in 2021, bigger and better things could be in store for him.

The NFL's international series this year might feature a battle between two of the NFC's top teams.

NBC Sports' Peter King reported the Los Angeles Rams "have told the league they wouldn’t mind being the Packers’ foe in London … if the league planned to put the Rams in Lambeau Field late in the season."

King also provided more details on the upcoming international slate. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will head to Germany on Nov. 13. Eight days later, the Arizona Cardinals will play in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium.

While the Rams appear to be in play for London, King reported Los Angeles was one of the "logical" candidates to play the Cardinals south of the border. Like the Rams, the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers would make sense, too, since they have international marketing rights in Mexico.

The NFL has already announced the five home teams for the international games:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Munich) 
• Arizona Cardinals (Mexico City) 
• Green Bay Packers (London) 
• Jacksonville Jaguars (London) 
• New Orleans Saints (London)

King's report hit on how the international series might be an opportunity for the "road" team to deploy a little bit of gamesmanship.

The Rams traveled to Lambeau Field in Week 12 last year, and they have another trip to Green Bay in store in 2022.

As much as playing overseas can be a headache for teams, facing off with the Packers in London might be preferable to playing them on their home turf, especially in the second half of the season.

The game-time temperature for last year's clash was 37 degrees with winds of 14 mph. London in November or December isn't exactly paradise, but it might present a more amenable atmosphere for Los Angeles.

Marquise Brown was searching for a new offensive system when he requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens. 

"He didn’t want to be in Baltimore anymore," Peter King of NBC Sports reported. "He didn’t like the offense—too conservative; not enough big-strike opportunities—and he welcomes a reunion with his college quarterback, Kyler Murray."

The Ravens sent Brown to the Arizona Cardinals along with a third-round pick in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. 

Brown later explained the situation Friday on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio.

"I love Lamar [Jackson]," the receiver said (h/t ESPN's Jamison Hensley). "It was just, you know, it’s just the system just wasn’t for me personally."

Brown is coming off the best year of his NFL career, totaling 91 catches for 1,008 receiving yards. His 146 targets ranked 10th in the league as 2019 first-round pick developed into a true No. 1 option.

The problem is it came with a changing role as more of a possession receiver, with his 11.1 yards per catch ranking just 80th in the NFL. His average depth of target ranked 51st in the league, per Pro Football Reference.

For a player who reportedly ran a 40-yard dash in 4.30 seconds at Oklahoma, the strategy could be a waste of his abilities.

The Ravens aren't likely to change their strategy much with Lamar Jackson under center, arguably the most dynamic rushing quarterback in the league. Baltimore finished last year ranked third in rushing attempts after leading the league in the category in each of the previous two seasons.

Brown will hope the Cardinals, which lost last year's leading receiver Christian Kirk to free agency, will provide a better opportunity for downfield passes.

Considering Kyler Murray helped Brown become one of the most dangerous wideouts in college football during their time together at Oklahoma, the pairing could be one to watch again in 2022.      

Dez Bryant is still angling for an NFL comeback.

The three-time Pro Bowler told TMZ Sports he's still hoping to land with an NFL team, specifically the Arizona Cardinals.

"I'd love to play for the Arizona Cardinals. ... Kyler [Murray], [Kliff Kingsbury]—I love the swagger over there," Bryant said. "I just love the guys, especially DeAndre Hopkins—that's my boy. We real close."

Bryant, 33, has not played in the NFL since a six-game stint with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. Those are the only six games he's played since the end of the 2017 season.

Bryant, who posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2012 to 2014, was arguably never the same after suffering foot and ankle injuries during the 2015 season. He never reached 900 yards over his final three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before his release after the 2017 campaign. He then suffered a torn Achilles after latching on with the New Orleans Saints in 2018.

It seems unlikely any team will be willing to bring Bryant in for a shot at this point. He did not look like a player ready to contribute two years ago during his time in Baltimore, and he's a half-decade removed from his last Pro Bowl season.

The Cardinals are also deeper at receiver after trading a first-round pick for Marquise Brown on Thursday.

It's possible Bryant could come into the organization in a coaching or consulting role, but his days as a wideout are likely over.

HEIGHT: 6'4 7/8"

WEIGHT: 318

HAND: 8 7/8"

ARM: 34 7/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'11 1/2"

40-YARD DASH: 5.30

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 23.5"

BROAD: 8'6"

POSITIVES

— Tone-setter with excellent competitive toughness to get after defenders from snap to whistle.

— Very good grip strength with violent, powerful hands to deliver a stiff strike on contact before latching, sustaining and gaining control.

— Effectively eliminates space to keep defenders tight to his body when they attempt to shed off, cleaning up reads for the runner.

— Works his pads under defenders on contact to dig them out on drive and down blocks with a wide base and sustained leg drive to create displacement.

— Uses independent hands in pass protection to strike, reset and stay leveraged on blocks.

— Quick processor with impressive play speed to sort through gap exchanges, stunts and line games.

NEGATIVES

— Upright playing style and wide hand placement allow defenders to work underneath and get him on his heels at the point of attack.

— Doesn't always bring his feet into blocks instead relying on his upper body to do the bulk of the work.

— Adequate foot quickness out of his stance and is sluggish redirecting laterally to mirror shifty rushers crossing his face.

2021 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at left guard.

— Second-team All-Big 12 selection.

NOTES

— 4-star recruit and top-five player in the state of Missouri.

— 36 career starts at left guard.

— Accepted an invite to the 2022 Senior Bowl.

OVERALL

Hayes is a three-year starting left guard in Oklahoma's multiple run scheme. He has a thick build with extra weight around his midsection and is high-cut with good arm length. Hayes has an upright playing style with adequate foot quickness, and he doesn't always bring his feet into contact yet consistently manages to stay attached to defenders using a wide base, vice grips for hands and outstanding effort to run his feet, strain and sustain blocks.

Hayes is a very good run-blocker with the ability to drop his pads and dig out defenders on double-team and down blocks while excelling as a puller using impressive angles, body control and length to fit on his target. He has very good mental processing to not chase gap exchanges across his face, decipher stunts and pick up the most dangerous man on blitzes.

Hayes is a brawler who can generate jarring torque to work defenders off balance, tip and snatch them to the ground. His middling foot quickness and heavy feet delay his ability to redirect and can get him beat across his face quickly against countermoves, but he shows good patience with stiff, independent strikes to stun defenders on contact, latch and end reps quickly.

When uncovered, he is very active and alert, looking for work with a vengeance, oftentimes caving in the ribs of adjacent rushers. Because of an upright playing style, his anchor can be tardy, but he fights to rework his hands under and inside with good core strength to grind down the bull rush with a few gather steps.

Overall, Hayes is a tone-setting presence on the line, with the length, power and play speed to circumvent an upright playing style and below-average foot quickness. He understands how to stay attached to blocks and shows an impressive understanding of the play's intent that allows him to play faster than his athleticism would indicate.

While his ceiling is likely capped as a solid starter, he will likely compete for a job right away and has the tools to be a long-term, functional starter.

GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player - 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 61

POSITION RANK: IOL4

PRO COMPARISON: Dalton Risner

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

HEIGHT: 6'2 7/8"

WEIGHT: 253

HAND: 10 3/8"

ARM: 32 5/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'6 3/4"

40-YARD DASH: 4.89

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 37.5"

BROAD: 9'6"

POSITIVES

— Thick build with a ton of muscle in the upper body.

— Great upper-body strength. Flashes heavy hands and can control blocks effectively when engaged.

— Above-average quickness. Can make plays in the backfield on occasion.

— Above-average speed and mobility. Covers ground well after getting off blocks.

— Unafraid to play in cluttered spaces and get scrappy. Tough, violent player.

— Shows the ability to win with power and relentlessness as a pass-rusher.

NEGATIVES

— Poor get-off and acceleration. Rarely comes off the ball with an instant advantage.

— Poor bend and flexibility as a pass-rusher.

— Late hands, both versus run and pass. Too often lets OL into his frame.

— Below-average length.

— Struggles maintaining his base in run defense. More an issue with technique and foot speed than strength.

2021 STATISTICS

12 G, 61 TOT, 8.5 TFL, 0.5 SK, 1 INT

NOTES

— 4-star recruit in 2018.

— Recruited as an inside linebacker, but transitioned to more of an edge position.

— Two-year starter.

OVERALL

Jesse Luketa has all the makings of a quality role player; nothing more, nothing less.

Luketa rocks a stocky 6'2⅜", 261-pound build with a thick upper body. Naturally, run defense is his calling card. He has the strength to knock players back initially as well as take good control of blocks with his upper-body strength. Luketa is also a very violent player, often showcasing that whenever he got a chance to take on a pulling linemen.

If anything, Luketa needs to work on bringing his feet with him and being a bit more privy to how the offense is trying to attack him. He can get knocked off his base too easily, which is troubling considering he has the raw strength for that not to be an issue if not for poor technique.

With that said, Luketa is also quicker than he looks. Luketa's stocky build does not scream quickness and mobility at first glance, but his lateral agility and change of direction are both above-average. Though he does not come off the ball with the same kind of juice, his other movement skills give him the ability to work in a phone booth and find creases every now and again. He also covers ground effectively once he works free.

Luketa's pass-rushing toolbox is limited at this stage, though. He does not come off the snap and accelerate well, making it tough to get the advantage on the edge. He does not have the bend or flexibility to make up for that lack of juice, either. Luketa does offer some good power and a nonstop motor, which lends to cleanup sacks, but his middling length and inconsistent hand usage hurt him too often right now.

Ideally, whichever team drafts Luketa will make him a run-defense specialist on the edge. His pass-rushing traits and approach are lacking right now, and his ceiling in that department is low. However, Luketa's toughness, strength and surprising quickness at the line of scrimmage are enough to make him a playable run defender sooner than later.

GRADE: 6.1 (High-level developmental prospect - 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 210

POSITION RANK: EDGE24

PRO COMPARISON: Mike Danna

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

The Arizona Cardinals didn't take long to reaffirm their commitment to the newly acquired Marquise Brown.

Arizona traded its first-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for the wide receiver and a third-round pick on Thursday, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Friday the NFC West team elected to pick up the fifth year on Brown's option.

That means he is slated to remain on the Cardinals through the 2023 campaign.

The Brown trade was one of the major headlines of Thursday's first round, especially when Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson appeared to express his discontent with the move:      

Wtf

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 29, 2022

🥺🥺🤬 https://t.co/PqO2e81vvZ

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 29, 2022

While Baltimore improved its team by selecting Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton and Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, it will still miss the dynamic wide receiver in the aerial attack. Its loss is Arizona's gain, as quarterback Kyler Murray now has a new weapon at his disposal.

There is also familiarity in place since Murray and Brown were college teammates at Oklahoma.

Brown finished the 2021 campaign with 91 catches for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. The catches and receiving yards totals were both career highs, which suggests the 24-year-old is trending in the right direction as he joins his former college teammate.

He also figures to benefit from playing alongside DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins is one of the best wide receivers in the league and consistently draws double teams, meaning Brown will face some of the secondary defensive backs he didn't get to line up across when he was with the Ravens.

The Cardinals are coming off an 11-6 season and their first playoff appearance during the Murray era.

Yet they lost 34-11 in their one playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, underscoring the gap they need to make up inside their own division. Brown should help them do just that.       

Wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown confirmed Friday that he asked the Baltimore Ravens to trade him following the 2022 season.

During an interview on SiriusXM's I Am Athlete Tonight, Brown discussed the trade request and noted that Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was well aware that he wanted out:

.@Primetime_jet confirms to @IAATonight that he indeed requested a trade away from the #Ravens and he talked to @Lj_era8 multiple times about it. After his 2nd season and during his 3rd season.

Says he kept tings in-house and the issue was about the offensive system, not his QB. pic.twitter.com/wwWVLhKDHR

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 29, 2022

The trade happened Thursday night during the first round of the 2022 NFL draft and saw Baltimore ship Brown and the No. 100 pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 23 selection.

Baltimore subsequently traded down two spots to No. 25 overall and took Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum.

During the interview, Brown mentioned expressing his unhappiness to the Ravens as early as his second NFL season in 2020.

Per ESPN's Jamison Hensley, Brown made it clear that his unhappiness stemmed from the offensive system and not Jackson specifically, saying: "I love Lamar. It was just, you know, it's just the system just wasn't for me personally."

Despite Brown saying Jackson was aware of his trade request, the quarterback seemed to take issue with Baltimore's decision to move him, as evidenced by the following tweet:

Wtf

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 29, 2022

Jackson also reacted to the Cardinals introducing their new wideout:

🥺🥺🤬 https://t.co/PqO2e81vvZ

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 29, 2022

While the Baltimore offense has largely been predicated on running the ball during Jackson's career, Brown will be part of a far more wide-open and pass-happy offense in Arizona under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Brown is also set to reunite with former Oklahoma University teammate and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

Even with Jackson missing time last season because of injury, the 24-year-old Brown set career highs with 91 receptions for 1,008 yards, scoring six touchdowns.

His 11.1 yards per catch was a career low in three NFL seasons, but he figures to get far more downfield opportunities in Arizona.

Brown will essentially replace Christian Kirk, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and be a key part of an Arizona receiving corps that includes DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green and Rondale Moore.

Meanwhile, Baltimore's receiving corps is left in shambles, with 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman leading the way, followed by Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace and James Proche II, all of whom are unproven.

Baltimore did not address the wide receiver position in the first round of the draft, but it could do so with the No. 45 pick in the second round or the No. 76 pick in the third round Friday night.

It appears Lamar Jackson is not happy with the Baltimore Ravens' decision to trade Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to the Arizona Cardinals during Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft on Thursday. 

The Ravens traded Brown and a third-round pick to the Cardinals for the 23rd overall pick. Baltimore then traded that pick to the Buffalo Bills for the 25th overall pick and a fourth-round selection. With the No. 25 pick, the Ravens selected Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum. 

Wtf

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 29, 2022

🤞🏾🤞🏾 https://t.co/bAIaENbuhL

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 29, 2022

It's important to note that the move comes at a time when Jackson and the Ravens have yet to work out a contract extension. The 25-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2022 season.

If Jackson isn't happy with Baltimore's first-round draft strategy, will he be willing to stick around for the long haul? It's worth wondering.

That said, it's not necessarily surprising that Jackson might be upset with Baltimore's decision to trade Brown. Doing so leaves the franchise with Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace, Jaylon Moore, James Proche II and Binjimen Victor in the receiver room. Of those players, Bateman was the only one to top 500 yards last season.

Aside from tight end Mark Andrews, Brown was Jackson's top target in 2021. The 24-year-old caught a career-high 91 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. For comparison, Bateman, Proche, Duvernay and Wallace combined for just 1,012 yards and three touchdowns last season. 

Jackson has also regressed as a passer over the last two seasons, and losing his top receiver certainly won't help the matter. The two-time Pro Bowler completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,882 yards and 16 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 12 games last season. 

It marks a decline from his 2019 MVP campaign in which he threw for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns against six interceptions in 15 games. 

That said, there are still plenty of other receivers available in the 2022 draft and in free agency. Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller, T.Y. Hilton, Odell Beckham Jr. and Cole Beasley represent a few of the players still available for Baltimore to sign on the open market. 

The NFL draft on Thursday night wasn't without its major moves, and one of the biggest was the Baltimore Ravens trading wideout Marquise Brown and the No. 100 pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 23 pick.

Below, we'll take a look at both team's updated trade charts and break down the deal. 

---

Cardinals Offensive Depth Chart

QB: Kyler Murray, Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley

RB: James Conner, Eno Benjamin, Jonathan Ward, Jaylen Samuels

WR 1: DeAndre Hopkins

WR 2: Marquise Brown

WR 3: A.J. Green, Rondale Moore, Andy Isabella, Antoine Wesley, Greg Dortch

TE: Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams, Stephen Anderson, David Wells

LT: D.J. Humphries, Joshua Miles, Koda Martin

LG: Justin Pugh, Sean Harlow, Danny Isidora

C: Rodney Hudson, Marcus Henry

RG: Justin Murray

RT: Kelvin Beachum, Josh Jones, Eric Smith

---

Ravens Offensive Depth Chart

QB: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

RB: J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Ty'Son Williams

WR 1: Rashod Bateman

WR 2: Jaylon Moore

WR 3: Binjimen Victor, Tylan Wallace

TE: Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Josh Oliver, Tony Poljan

LT: Ronnie Stanley, Patrick Mekari, Jaryd Jones-Smith

LG: Tyre Phillips, Ben Powers

C: Trystan Colon-Castillo, James Murray

RG: Kevin Zeitler, Ben Cleveland

RT: Morgan Moses, Ja'Wuan James

---

Analysis

So, question No. 1—why did the Ravens trade away their most dynamic wideout? 

Per reports, Brown wanted a change in scenery:

This is what I wondered, given the silence from Brown this offseason. Ravens wouldn't have made this decision lightly given Brown's relationship to Lamar Jackson and Brown's importance to offense. https://t.co/YvoEw0Znv7

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 29, 2022

The 24-year-old flashed explosive potential in his three seasons, but it wasn't until the 2021 campaign that he looked the part of his "Hollywood" nickname, catching 91 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.

That speed should give the Cardinals a new dimension on offense, especially after they lost Christian Kirk in free agency. And it will help that quarterback Kyler Murray and Brown played together at Oklahoma:

Text from #Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury on Arizona trading for Marquise Brown: “HUGE for us. Speed is elite and K1 has always loved Hollywood’s game.”

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 29, 2022

Kliff Kingsbury said he can use Hollywood Brown “everywhere."

— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) April 29, 2022

GM Steve Keim loved Hollywood Brown coming out of OU while they were scouting Kyler Murray. Now, he gets them both. https://t.co/nrpsSVQjiq

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 29, 2022

Kyler Murray gets his top target at Oklahoma and his best friend in WR Marquise Brown. Speed speed speed. Arizona (and their QB) are both very happy right now.

Arizona anticipated the top 4 wideouts off the board in first 12 and had a deliberate plan tonight. This was in works.

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 29, 2022

Excited to see Hollywood Brown back with Kyler Murray in a system he's comfortable in. There's your replacement for Christian Kirk!

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 29, 2022

The Cardinals are clearly in Super-Bowl-or-bust mode. In an offseason with some uncertainty regarding Murray's future in Arizona, the acquisition of Brown should put to rest any worries about the star quarterback wanting out. 

As for the Ravens, they still need to add more weapons for star quarterback Lamar Jackson in the passing game. They didn't do that on Thursday night, instead using their two first-round picks on safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum.

The Ravens are notoriously good at drafting, so it's hard to knock either pick, and Rashod Bateman showed some promise in his rookie season (46 catches, 515 yards, one touchdown). 

But trading Brown left a hole at wideout, and at some point, the Ravens will need to fill it.