ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Deshaun Watson made his pitch for receiver DeAndre Hopkins Tuesday.
Watson, appearing at the Cleveland Browns Foundation’s annual charity golf outing at Westwood Country Club, didn’t shy away from talk about recruiting Hopkins.
“I know there's a lot of things swirling around in the media of him possibly coming to Cleveland,” Watson said. “And for me, my answer to that is of course we would love to have him. He knows that. We had a lot of connections but that's kind of out of my range of things.... So all I can do is make a call and see what happens and have AB [Andrew Berry] do the rest.”
Watson and Hopkins played three years together between 2017-2019 with the Houston Texans where Hopkins was first team All-Pro all three years.
“He just makes the throws a lot easier,” Watson said. “His range catch radius is super, it’s probably the best in the league. And I mean just the things he does, he just made my job a lot easier so I just put the ball in his direction [and] he made the plays.”
The Browns currently have just over $6 million in salary cap space available but will be able to ad close to $12 million more in room on June 1 when Jadaveon Clowney and John Johnson III’s cap charges come off the books from their release earlier this offseason.
The team cash payroll for 2023 is approaching $300 million.
This offseason the Browns traded for Elijah Moore, signed Marquise Goodwin in free agency and drafted Cedric Tillman in the third round with their top pick following the Moore trade making the addition of Hopkins unlikely.
“I really, really like our wide receiver room,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I love the guys that are in there. Andrew [Berry] and his crew are always looking at every avenue and that type of thing, so I won't comment specifically on the player other than to say I really like our roster.”
The Browns appear to check all of Hopkins’ boxes – chance to contend, quality quarterback, strong defense and stable leadership.
“I think any situation for D-Hop would be perfect for him, but of course with me having another weapon along with all the other great weapons we have in that locker room and in that room, we always love to add talent,” Watson said.
That said, Watson was not one of the quarterbacks that Hopkins mentioned on a podcast he’d like the chance to play with but Watson did not perceive that as a slight one bit.
“He don't have to mention me,” Watson said. “Just like if I mentioned the top five receivers and I forget [him], he won’t take that personal because he already knows our relationship and what I believe and what I think about him.”