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.
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Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
We just signed a comparable guy from San Diego for like 4 mill.
Sneed does way more and much more difficult to replace than a 2 down backer.
Sneed is so valuable that his name used to be Charvarius Ward but because of his value, he legally changed his name to L'Jarius Sneed. We haven't had a dominant LB like Bolton since Derrick Johnson, and then hadn't had a dominant LB like that since the great one Derrick Thomas. You've replaced greatness in the secondary reliably since Andy Reid got here, in fact it's almost guaranteed that Sneed won't be here long, but Bolton will get another contract even if it means Gay walks. You've only replaced greatness in the LB core a couple times since the greatest to ever do it in Red and Gold. Sneed is great, no knocks against him, but if you give me a choice between Sneed or Bolton, its Bolton every day of the week and the youth of our secondary last year alone shows you why Sneed is replaceable compared to Bolton. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Direckshun:
What motivates Nuk?
Does he think this is his last payday as The Guy? If so, New England has to be the choice.
Does he think he has years, multiple, left in the tank, and is thirsting for a ring?
If so, KC and Buffalo make the most sense.
Of course -- apparently if the Chiefs are willing to flip a pick, it doesn't matter what he wants.
It's hard to say anymore. Guys that I've assumed were only going after a ring after making what I would consider to be a decent amount of money....go sign with a shit organization. Look at JJ Watt. Dude had money and you would have figured that he wanted a ring...and then he signed with Arizona.
If you're going to sign with a contender than it has to be KC, Buffalo or Cincy in the AFC. The NFC is a little bit more murky. He could go play for Minnesota and have a shot...but none of those teams are beating the AFC's teams in the SB.
And I only mention the Vikings because he'd get to play with Jefferson and Cousins is at least competent. He's not a top 5 QB by any means but that NFC is fucking weak enough that they could win it with Jefferson and Hopkins as their top 2 WRs. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
It's for money. It's always for money.
Rings are way down the list.
We're about to find out. Hopkins has made over $100 million just from contracts alone. He doesn't have to play for peanuts here but he won't be a top paid WR. Sure, he could go to Buffalo but there's no guarantee they're winning shit either. Cincy doesn't need a WR and there's no other AFC team that is going to be at the top just by adding him.
KC is the perfect storm for him to win a ring. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
We're about to find out. Hopkins has made over $100 million just from contracts alone. He doesn't have to play for peanuts here but he won't be a top paid WR. Sure, he could go to Buffalo but there's no guarantee they're winning shit either. Cincy doesn't need a WR and there's no other AFC team that is going to be at the top just by adding him.
KC is the perfect storm for him to win a ring.
Agreed.
We also have to remember that Hopkins is just a different breed, though I don't know him as well as I do the Chiefs players.
But there's a difference between Pro Bowl players and Hall of Fame players. They're just built different.
Nuk is a Hall of Fame player. And he's not in the Hall of Fame simply because he's good, it's in part because he cares more.
Mahomes and Kelce and Chris Jones are Hall of Fame players, and they've taken less and unnecessarily flexible contracts so they can win Super Bowls. [Reply]
Kelce and Mahomes are already in the situation though. It's not a spot where they would really want to leave or would it behoove them to financially leave.
But whatever you guys wanna think. "RING CHASING FOR THE WIN" [Reply]