Ravens All-Pro WR makes Lamar Jackson stance clear originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Ravens somehow didn't make the playoffs in 2025, and now, under Jesse Minter, work is underway to ensure that in 2026, Baltimore is a playoff team.
But to do that, Lamar Jackson needs protection, and he needs weapons.
Zay Flowers, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely (free agent) are the main weapons for Lamar, but All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins was one of them in 2025, but now he is a free agent.
With all the coaching changes, the new offensive coordinator might not want to have a veteran like Hopkins on the team.
But the former first-round pick, who was a guest on the Up & Adams Show, made it clear that he wouldn't mind a return to Baltimore.
“I would love to come back, but not every offensive coordinator is wanting a veteran WR on their team," Hopkins said. "It's nothing personal, obviously, Lamar and I had a great connection. Of course, I love Baltimore, me being the competitor, I would have loved to be used more, it doesn’t upset me that I wasn’t.
"I would love to play with Lamar [Jackson] again.”
More: Ravens get Lamar Jackson ultimate protector in latest mock draft
Is it worth Hopkins returning?
You could make the case that it is. But Hopkins, under Todd Monken, was more of a situational receiver, instead of an every-down weapon.
Just 22 receptions for 330 yards and 2 TDs isn't a great return, but he only played 33 percent of the offensive snaps (334).
So, depending on who the new coordinator is, it might factor into whether or not DeAndre returns.
He wants to, now we have to find out if the Ravens want him to return as well.
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