DeAndre Hopkins was once one of the top overall wide receivers in the NFL during his tenure with the Houston Texans. Many rumors have been circling during the 2026 offseason that the two sides could reunite now that he is a free agent. Team reporter Aaron Wilson recently explained why he does not see this as a realistic possibility.
Aaron Wilson Provides a Reality Check on DeAndre Hopkins’ Rumored Texans Reunion
Hopkins spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Texans and was selected as an All-Pro in three of them. He has played for four other teams in the six seasons since then, but the veteran wide receiver is rumored to potentially be on his way back to Houston in 2026 free agency.
Wilson recently responded to the rumors, shooting down the idea of a reunion between the former superstar and his old team. He described why it does not make sense for the franchise, given where they currently stand this year.
“The Texans are not going to have a reunion with DeAndre Hopkins … I don’t think they need him, I don’t think that’s what they are looking for. So, I don’t see that happening at all … I just don’t see the Texans revisiting this. They don’t really like to go back, they don’t do a lot of reunions … Father time is undefeated. Yes, he can still play a little bit, of course, but it’s a new era of Texans football,” explained Wilson.
Houston has appeared in the NFL playoffs in each of the past three seasons, but the team has yet to get past the Divisional Round. This suggests that the Texans are extremely close to becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but Wilson does not see signing Hopkins as a way of getting closer.
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The veteran finished last year 78th among all wide receivers in PFSN’s Impact Rankings, which was the lowest of his career by a significant margin. He will also be 34 years old when the 2026 season kicks off, so it is fair to assume that his best years are likely behind him.
While he could probably still contribute to the offense at this stage in his career, his presence may take targets away from the team’s valuable youth at the position. The Texans’ top five wide receivers currently are 31 or younger, which may play a role in why Wilson shot down the rumors of Hopkins making a return to Houston at this late stage of his career.
