Probably...my point is more to the people who think Hopkins can't be traded to a cap strapped team. When there is a will, there is a way. We see it all the time in the NFL.
Except signing a player is not the same as trading for one.
Here are a couple of points.
When trading for the player, the salary hits the cap immediately, unless the player agrees to immediately also sign deal that will lower that 2023 cost. The player doesn't have to do that and that gives them a quasi "no trade" clause if the team can't absorb that cap hit. Hearing the mini potential tear down in Tennessee adds to the list of why they dont fit and it also doesn't fit what Hopkins is looking for as does playing for O'Brien in a very average Patriots.
Signing a FA provides flexibility in structure of the deal and they can also wait to submit to the league if it effects their cap and they need to restructure or release players first. When a trade happens, the team trading away ain't waiting and if the player won't restructure/renegotiate, they have to able to take on the full $19.4 million.
Comparing the Carr deal to trading away Hopkins is apples to oranges.
And yes, teams can manipulate the cap, but the player needs to be on baord to make that happen too.