The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl without a star wide receiver, but they could reportedly make an elite offense even scarier by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins.
NFL insider Benjamin Albright told PHNX Cardinals that Kansas City is the "primary suitor" for Hopkins. He doesn't know the draft compensation the Cardinals would receive, but he said it's more likely they get a second-round pick than a first.
After the 2022 season, theScore's Jordan Schultz reported that the Cardinals plan to trade Hopkins this offseason.
Arizona hired a new general manager and head coach after a disappointing four-win season, and Hopkins is set to make $19.45 million (with a $30.75 million cap hit) in 2023. The Cardinals could seek a clean slate by moving the three-time All-Pro wideout, who turns 31 in June.
Hopkins began his Cardinals career by tallying 1,407 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. However, multiple lower body injuries limited him to 10 games in 2021, and he served a six-game suspension to start the 2022 season for violating the NFL's PED policy.
Yet he remains an impact player when on the field. Hopkins totaled 474 receiving yards in six full games with quarterback Kyler Murray last season.
Now imagine what he can accomplish when catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs flourished without a star replacement for Tyreek Hill, but they could still benefit by solidifying the position this offseason. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a free agent after garnering 78 catches for 933 yards on a one-year deal. The depth chart features several talented question marks in Mecole Hardman, Kadarius Toney, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Adding Hopkins could be great news for Kansas City, but terrible for all opposing defenses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In your scenario, you're looking at replacing both LT AND RT, whether it's moving guys around, people switching positions, keeping Taylor at RT, or playing Thuney LT (can't believe I even had to mention it).
If you put Taylor at LT and Niang or anybody else as a backup, if Taylor gets injured you put in the 2nd guy. You're only changing one position, which for the offensive line is extremely important.
Yeah, it just seems too slick for reality. Especially when we have guys that have real live experience at either end, but for some reason let's put both of them on one end, and then put a rookie at the other end.
I feel like Andy would want to leaven both OTs with experience. Maye I'm nuts. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Yeah, it just seems too slick for reality. Especially when we have guys that have real live experience at either end, but for some reason let's put both of them on one end, and then put a rookie at the other end.
I feel like Andy would want to leaven both OTs with experience. Maye I'm nuts.
I think your opening day starting tackles are Taylor and Niang. Worries a bit, especially Niang, but I really think that's where they are going. [Reply]
Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) on DeAndre Hopkins suitors:
“Teams I’m told are interested with the possible capital to pull off a trade for Hopkins include (but aren’t limited to) the New England Patriots, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.”
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
I think your opening day starting tackles are Taylor and Niang. Worries a bit, especially Niang, but I really think that's where they are going.
It worries you a bit, but you're totally against OT at 31?
Sorry, but I don't understand that at all. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
I think your opening day starting tackles are Taylor and Niang. Worries a bit, especially Niang, but I really think that's where they are going.
I would think. See if Niang can actually do what we drafted him for. he's not still on the roster because Andy likes how he smells. Let Taylor have an entire offseason/preseason to get his shit straight playing LT. Get both of those guys locked into their roles; don't have them wondering where they're going to play. Don't confuse the issue. Maybe throw Prince in as backup LT, because again he has some experience with the team/offense and some live snaps. Then you can draft an OT and figure out where he goes as preseason progresses, but probably backup RT, which isn't as crucial to protecting Mahomes.
Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) on DeAndre Hopkins suitors:
“Teams I’m told are interested with the possible capital to pull off a trade for Hopkins include (but aren’t limited to) the New England Patriots, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.”
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Comes across as Arizona begging literally any team to get into a bidding war for him.
What a terrible list of teams to go to. Not one top-12 QB in the lot. I mean, I guess it would be just par for Deandre. Not like he's ever played with a top-10 QB in his life, why start now? [Reply]
