DeAndre Hopkins. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Three reasons Browns have upper hand in DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 5/31/23

It's no secret that WR DeAndre Hopkins is the most coveted free agent on the market. Here are three reasons the Browns have an upper hand to land the five-time Pro Bowler.

Familiarity

Cleveland has something that no other team in the league has and that's QB Deshaun Watson.

Hopkins and Watson played together on the Texans from 2017-19 and displayed an electric connection. In their last season together, Hopkins finished with 104 catches for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns. If Hopkins wants to reunite with Watson, he's just one call away.

"Me and D-Hop, we just naturally talk," Watson told reporters. "We've been talking since the Houston days. ... He's always been a brother of mine. ... Our connection, our relationship has always been great. ... Of course, we would love to have him. He knows that."

#Browns QB Deshaun Watson on DeAndre Hopkins: pic.twitter.com/TyXLTGx1e8
— Brad Stainbrook (@StainbrookNFL) May 30, 2023

Cap Space

The Browns are picking up $10.915M in cap space this Friday as a result of their prior post-June 1 designated releases.

Like many teams at this point of the offseason, Cleveland doesn't have a ton of cap space, but they have enough. And let's be honest, if a team knows how to manipulate the cap, it can make any move it wants to.

General manager Andrew Berry has been aggressive this offseason in adding premier pieces to Cleveland's roster and Hopkins could be the latest example.

Ring Chasing

Hopkins, who turns 31 in June, is on the back end of his career. So, what's more important to cement his legacy than with a ring?

The Browns have certainly built a roster that looks on paper like it could contend for a Super Bowl in 2023. If Cleveland can add Hopkins to its already impressive roster, it would only build upon that belief.

Hopkins and the Browns are both still searching for their first Super Bowl championship. Maybe they can finally make it there with the help of each other this season.

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