Arizona Cardinals: How DeAndre Hopkins trade affects 2020 NFL Draft

How will the Arizona Cardinals attack the 2020 NFL Draft after this massive trade?

DeAndre Hopkins is without a doubt, one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL. Because of this, most people would think that it would take at least a few first-round picks to trade for him, especially after seeing the Odell Beckham trade package last offseason. However, Steve Keim, the general manager of the Arizona Cardinals, was able to trade virtually nothing to secure one of the most talented playmakers in the entire league.

Before we look at the draft implications of this trade, let’s look at the timeline first.

1:07 p.m. ET: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Houston Texans are trading for David Johnson from the Arizona Cardinals.
1:20 p.m. ET: Schefter reports that the Arizona Cardinals are trading for DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans.
1:27 p.m. ET: Final trade details released. The Cardinals sent David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick to the Texans for DeAndre Hopkins and a 2020 fourth-round pick.

This whole trade happened in twenty minutes, and the Texans came out of it with David Johnson and a 2nd round pick, while the Cardinals got DEANDRE FREAKING HOPKINS.

Now, onto how this affects the draft.

A few weeks ago, I expected the Cardinals to address the wide receiver position in the draft after they resigned D.J. Humphries to a big deal, however, things might be a bit different now.

After the acquisition of Hopkins, wide receiver drops down towards the bottom of the needs list the Cardinals have. I would expect that offensive tackle is still a position of priority for this team and this is the year to prioritize it.

The Cardinals still pick at eight overall and should be in prime position to have their pick of, at least, a couple of the top offensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft. After dominant performances at the combine, any of the top four offensive tackles could be in play at number eight. Jedrick Wills Jr., Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton all “won” the combine in their own ways.

Wills showed up in the on-field drills, Thomas showed up with all the arm length in the world, Becton showed up and ran a 5.1-second 40-yard dash while weighing 364-pounds and Wirfs showed up and proved that he’s one of the most athletic offensive linemen in the history of the combine.

Of those four prospects, one of them will probably be off the table by the time the Cardinals pick. If I had to pick one of those offensive linemen to put into the lineup for the Cardinals, I would pick Wirfs. He has the athleticism, experience and has good tape; he could immediately step in as the starting right tackle going forward.

If there were to be another direction the Cardinals could go, it would be the interior defensive line. Picking at eight overall has them in prime range to land either of the top two prospects at the position.

Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw are the clear top two interior defensive linemen in this draft and I don’t think you could go wrong with either of them. Brown offers a more well-rounded, polished type of player who has years of good tape under his belt. Kinlaw brings immense upside and elite athleticism to the position that makes him an attractive option for any team deciding between the two.

I think there is a good chance both of these players are on the board at eight overall, and if the Cardinals decide to draft one of them, fans should be happy with whoever they pick. Both Brown and Kinlaw are incredible in their own ways and will bring a lot to the team.

We should not expect the Arizona Cardinals to pick a wide receiver early, but Kyler Murray throwing to Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald and CeeDee Lamb in Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense would make magic happen.