This weekend, various football players got to practice their moves in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, a round-robin tournament featuring two teams of NFL players and the U.S. men’s national flag football team.
Tom Brady was the man behind the event, which also featured stars including Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Von Miller, Stefon Diggs, Joe Burrow, and DeAndre Hopkins. While most players are attached to specific teams, some of them are free agents able to sign with new squads.
That includes Hopkins, who became a free agent after he spent the 2025 season in Baltimore. Hopkins linked up with star quarterback Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley, grabbing 22 receptions for 330 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but the Ravens were unable to reach the postseason.
Another team that failed to make the playoffs was the Cincinnati Bengals, as they lost Burrow for a significant portion of their season with a toe turf injury. However, adding another target for Burrow to throw darts and bombs to could upgrade the roster.
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Hopkins got a taste of what one of those bombs would be like as he was on the receiving end of a huge throw from Burrow.
After the Wildcats snapped the ball, Saquon Barkley tossed it to Burrow, who then hurled the football towards the end zone. Hopkins was waiting there and made the catch, giving their team a touchdown in the flag football matchup.
Hopkins shared a video clip of that highlight to his X (formerly Twitter) account along with three dots and an intriguing hands-over-eyes emoji.
Could that suggest his interest in signing with Cincinnati for next season?
That X post arrived a day after another one, which may have been more of a sign of his interest in the team. Hopkins shared a cryptic emoji as his message on Friday night. Some believed the emoji was a Bengal, and him hinting at joining the team.
“Ja’Marr Chase + DHop + Tee Higgins. Nobody is stopping that trio,” an X reply on his post said.
Another commenter wrote, “Deanre hopkins playing with tee, jamarr and joe. Superbowl incoming.”
“Deandre, Tee, and Chase would be a cheat code on offense. LFG!!!” an X commenter replied.
However, numerous replies may have thrown water on the idea that Hopkins was referring to the NFL squad, as commenters mentioned his loyalty to the Clemson Tigers, where he played his college football. Their college basketball team recently participated in March Madness.
Clemson, a No. 8 seed, played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 9 seed Iowa, but unfortunately lost the game, 67-61. However, Hopkins’ video share and emoji on Saturday may have people wondering if he is contemplating the possibility of linking up with the modern-day “Joe Cool” in Cincinnati for a chance at the playoffs.
Hopkins, who turns 34 in June, had a shot to claim a Super Bowl ring, playing for the Kansas City Chiefs several seasons ago. Unfortunately, they were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles, but joining a squad with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Chase Hopkins could create a threat offensively in the AFC.
There have been several other teams mentioned in Hopkins free agency speculation, including him signing with the Tennessee Titans to play with Cam Ward, or a reunion with the Houston Texans, where he’d catch passes from C.J. Stroud.
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