Ballerific Sports: The 2016 Season Brings Contract Negotiations For DeAndre Hopkins – blogged by @niksofly

As the Houston Texans wide receiver prepares to enter into the fourth year of his rookie contract, #DeAndreHopkins is looking to be paid what he is worth. “I’m not looking for a certain range. I just want to be treated for what I’m worth. That’s fair to say, right,” Hopkins stated at a football camp for adolescent kids.

In 2013 the first-round pick signed a four-year, $7.626 M ($6.181M guaranteed) deal with the Houston Texans.  This season he will hit the cap at $2.426M with his dead money value being $1.426 M.  Earlier in the offseason, the Texans exercised his fifth-year option that doesn’t allow Hopkins to become a free-agent until 2018. As customary, the Texans offer extensions to their first-round picks in the fourth year of their contracts per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Whitney Mercilus  and JJ Watt serve as the most recent examples. Each signing extensions 2015 and 2014 respectively.

The themed question is “what should the value of the extension be?”  Texans General Manager, Rick Smith , feels  “D-Hop is really, really emerging into one of the better receivers in the league…” and rightfully so. Hopkins just came off of a Pro-Bowl selection. Last season he received 111 passes for 1,521 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns. His career average is over 1,000 yards per season. As I’ve stated in “Ten Players You Should Have On Your Radar”, Hopkins makes those tough catches. Since the Texans released then 12 -year- veteran, Andre Johnson, Nukk has stepped into that prominent role and should be fairly compensated.

The highest paid receiver is AJ Green of the Cincinnati Bengals. He currently makes  $15 M per year from his 2015  four-year/ $60M  ($26.75 Guaranteed) extension.  $6.687M is guaranteed yearly. Alshon Jeffery of the Chicago Bears follows suit with a fully guaranteed $14.599M contract  courtesy of the franchise tag he accepted this off season.  Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons signed a five-year/ $71.25 M ($35.5 M guaranteed) contract extension that pays him $14.25 M per year with $7.1 M coming from his guarantees annually.

The problem is with the exception of Jeffrey,  The receiver worth and bargaining power was in 2015  when Dez Bryant, DeMaryius Thomas, Green and a few others set the pay tone when they held out.  This year the receiver yearly value is between ten and $11.5 M per year.  That’s a three- four million dollar deficit in the player value created in 2015. Hopkins’ production is on par with top receivers.  The only aforementioned player that has had a better first three years is AJ Green. He accumulated 300 more yards than Hopkins during his first three years.  Alshon Jeffery garnered 2,921 yards in his first three seasons and Atlanta’s beastly receiver, Julio Jones racked up 2,737 yards within his first three.  Hopkins three-year total is 3533 yards- a number worth all negotiating parties showing attention. 

My opinion suggests that he should be compensated along the lines of those players’ salaries. He has proven and continues to prove he is the man for the job regardless of QB stability. As for now, Hopkins is leaving the negotiations between his agent and the organization, but his agent shouldn’t have a hard time negotiating. “You know, that’s between my agents and the Texans.I love this city. I don’t want to play anywhere else but here. So the rest will work itself out, hopefully.” (Hopkins)

-Niko Rose

Salary Information courtesy of : OverTheCap.com

Player Stats courtesy of NFL.com