With the frenzy of free agency now significantly slowed, veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins stands as a notable available name. Of course, his history with the new Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray, and the Vikings possibly in the market for a veteran to replace the departed Jailen Nailor, has invited the idea of a reunion.
Hopkins was in Los Angeles to participate in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. During the game, he caught a touchdown from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and the day before, he fueled some speculation about signing with the Bengals with an emoji in a tweet.
…🐅
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) March 20, 2026
In a previous tweet, in response to a Baltimore Ravens fan wondering about the team bringing him back after he spent the 2025 season there, Hopkins practically declared his desire to reunite with Murray in Minnesota.
Hopkins and Murray spent three seasons together in Arizona (2020-2022). Still, only the first one was a complete season, as the others were set off course by injuries and by Hopkins' serving a performance-enhancing drug suspension. That said, their rapport and production together were undeniably good.
DeAndre Hopkins confirms he wants to reunite with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray
TMZ Sports caught up with Hopkins at the airport in Los Angeles. In regard to his approach to free agency, he made it clear that "being around good people" and being a veteran mentor were priorities over strictly chasing a Super Bowl ring.
Then he was asked about Murray.
“Kyler, that’s my boy, man. Kyler is like family. I talked to Kyler throughout the year last year, I talked to him after his situation in Arizona. So, Kyler is like family man. I will always embrace that journey with him… Whatever I can do for someone like that. If Kyler needed me, he know I’m there. If the Vikings need me, they know I’ll be there."
If there was any question about Hopkins' desire to reunite with Murray, and there really shouldn't have been, he has affirmatively put it to bed. He made it clear he has been talking to Murray lately, and the prospect of reunion with the Vikings would be an obvious focus of the discussion.
It also seems the message about his desire to reunite with Murray has, one way or another, been sent up the chain to the Vikings' brass.
Unless they believe Tai Felton can fill the role after hardly being used as a rookie, the Vikings have a real question mark at their WR3 spot. Hopkins is not the field-tilting WR1 he once was, but there are signs he has plenty left in the tank, and the notion of him as a veteran mentor fortifies him as an ideal addition.
When it comes to adding Hopkins, the metaphorical ball is now firmly in the Vikings' court.