The Arizona Cardinals did not trade for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Kenyan Drake just for the short term.
The Cardinals decided to trade for Drake right before the trade deadline with the Miami Dolphins, but the only issue with that was that the Cardinals knew that they had to sign Drake to an extension. The Cardinals also landed one of the best wide receivers in the league for an absolute steal when they traded for DeAndre Hopkins.
Hopkins still has three years left on his current deal. Drake and the Cardinals settled on a one-year transition tag that will pay Drake up to $8.4 million this season before he hits free agency in 2021.
Although nothing is imminent, the Cardinals are trying to sign both of their new superstars to long-term deals, general manager Steve Keim said on Wednesday.
Keim confirms he has spoken with the agents for both Kenyan Drake and DeAndre Hopkins on extensions.
— Chuck Harris (@chuckh3) April 15, 2020
“Both those guys are guys we’d like to have long-term,” Keim said. “Again, if it makes our organization better and the opportunity arises, we will certainly do that. I’ve had communication with both their agents. We’ll continue to pound away. The draft is the most important part right now, but we will continue to have ongoing talks with both of those players’ agents.”
The Arizona Cardinals have until July 15 to complete a deal for Drake; if no deal is finalized, he will be stuck on his one-year transition tag.
The Cardinals have roughly $8 million in cap space.
