New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Did star CB reveal Jets' interest in five-time Pro Bowl WR?

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/12/23

The New York Jets very well may have entered the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes.

Citing a report from SI.com’s Albert Breer, BroBible’s Dov Kleiman tweeted the Jets were interested in “making a run” at Hopkins, to which Sauce Gardner quote tweeted him and poured fuel on the fire.

Me & Dhop had a great talk when I was in Dallas last week https://t.co/4xjwNewEiW
— D’ROY GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) April 12, 2023

Other than Kleiman’s speculation based on Breer’s initial statement, which didn’t quite say the Jets were interested in Hopkins but did theorize “if the Jets can get Hopkins to work with them on the money, I could certainly see this happening,” there isn’t much else linking Hopkins to the Jets aside from Gardner’s tweet.

New York was reportedly pursuing Odell Beckham Jr., who was on Aaron Rodgers’ rumored “wish list” of players he wanted the Jets to acquire, before Beckham Jr. signed with the Baltimore Ravens for more money than New York was willing to dish out.

Hopkins wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize to Beckham Jr., who’s missed 30 games over the last three years, including the entire 2022 season. Hopkins has played in 10 or more games in every season but 2022, and he’s registered five seasons with 90 or more receptions and six seasons with 1,000 or more yards.

The Jets were unwilling to pay $15 million to Beckham Jr. on a one-year contract, and it’s not clear if they’d be willing to pay the $19.45 million base salary Hopkins is owed in 2023.

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