DeAndre Hopkins joined the Ravens in free agency last offseason by inking a one-year deal. The decorated wideout now faces an uncertain future, although he would welcome a second Baltimore campaign. 
“The reality of it, having a new offensive coordinator, being an older guy, I know football and I know how the business side works,” Hopkins said during an appearance on the Up & Adams show (video link). “I would love to come back, but not every offensive coordinator is wanting a veteran receiver on their team. Some guys have different dynamics of how they go about coaching. It’s nothing personal.”
The Ravens are in the midst of widespread coaching changes. The arrival of Jesse Minter as a first-time head coach, coupled with efforts by John Harbaugh‘s Giants and Todd Monken‘s Browns to recruit Baltimore staffers, has created a number of vacancies. One of those was filled yesterday with the team agreeing to hire Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. It will be interesting to see if Doyle supports the idea of a new Hopkins deal.
In 2025, Hopkins got off to a strong start with 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns across his first two games. Despite remaining healthy through the remainder of the campaign, however, the five-time Pro Bowler totaled just 330 yards on 22 catches; he did not add any more scores along the way. That production is comfortably the lowest of Hopkins’ 13-year career, and it will no doubt lead to another modest free agent pact. He joined the Ravens on a $5MM deal last spring.
Baltimore’s receiver depth chart is set to be topped once again by Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman in 2026. Flowers is coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, and the two-time Pro Bowler is eligible for an extension this spring. Bateman, meanwhile, is on the books through 2029. Retaining Hopkins would once again consign him to a depth role, especially with tight end Mark Andrews still in the fold for next year and beyond.
Hopkins, who will turn 34 in June, noted he would have preferred a larger role in the Ravens’ offense (a unit which dealt with quarterback injuries for much of the year). Nevertheless, he would be amenable to another season working with Lamar Jackson and thus enjoying a degree of stability at the QB spot. Since the end of his Texans tenure, Hopkins has worked with several signal-callers during time with the Cardinals, Titans and Chiefs which preceded his Ravens stint.
Expectations will be tempered in this case given Hopkins’ age and drop-off in production relative to his best seasons. Still, he could offer a veteran presence to any receiving room. As the Ravens sort through their list of pending free agents, a decision will soon need to be made on offering a 2026 deal.