Deshaun Watson knows what he wants, and this time around, it seems there is consent to make it happen.
Watson told reporters that he’s spoken with Hopkins about joining the Browns and is leaving it in the hands of general manager Andrew Berry to make the move.
“Of course, we would love to have him. He knows that,” Watson said.
“We just naturally talk, we’ve been talking since the Houston days and then also when he left for Arizona we were always talking,” Watson said. “Our connection, our relationship has always been great… of course, we would love to have him. He knows that… but that’s kinda out of my range of things to coordinate, so all I can do is make a call and see what happens.”
Hopkins, who’ll turn 31 next Tuesday, was surprisingly released by the Cardinals as trade rumors swirled for months.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Browns are a “dark horse” to sign the All-Pro receiver, and Hopkins would prefer to rejoin Watson. During their stint with the Houston Texans, the two combined for 315 receptions, 4,115 yards, and 31 touchdowns while going 24-13.
In 2020, their last season together, Hopkins finished with 104 catches for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns. In his last two seasons with Arizona, Hopkins combined for just 106 catches over 19 games.
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Hopkins would join a developing collection of wide receivers in Cleveland that includes Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and rookie Cedric Tillman.
Deshaun Watson appeared in six games following his return from suspension in 2022. He hadn’t played in an NFL regular season game since 2020 before those six games. Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, was outstanding throughout the 2020 season. While playing for the Houston Texans, he topped the league in passing yards with 4,823. Watson threw for 33 touchdowns.
Watson accumulated 1,102 throwing yards and seven touchdowns through the air in the six games he played for Cleveland. He was also picked off five times.
