DeAndre Hopkins roster bonus puts holdout in question
Veterans were scheduled to arrive at Houston Texans training camp at midnight, but DeAndre Hopkins did not report. That’s because the talented wide receiver is unhappy with his current contract and holding out for a new one.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Tania Ganguli report the news about Hopkins and say the receiver actually showed up at camp Friday but took some belongings from his locker and did not officially report.
Drafted in the first round in 2013, Hopkins is under contract with the Texans for two more seasons after the team picked up his 2017 option. He is set to earn around $9.3 million over the next two seasons.
Hopkins caught 111 passes for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns last season — numbers that compare favorably to any receiver in the league. The year before he had 76 catches for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns. He has a very good argument for being deserving of more money and is using the holdout as leverage to get it.
But one thing that could complicate his holdout is the roster bonus he is due. Hopkins is only set to make $1 million this season. He is facing fines of $40,000 a day during his holdout. His roster bonus is for $445,000 — almost half of his season’s salary — and that will only be paid if he is on the roster on Wednesday. Because of his holdout, the Texans could put Hopkins on the reserve/did not report list. That means Hopkins’ holdout is facing a serious deadline.
