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 Red Dawg:
He's too expensive and there is no way around it. Forget it.
Nah, Hopkins stated weeks ago that he was willing to be flexible about his salary/contract, and that his primary goal was to go to a winner.
In Veach we trust. He'll shuffle things around, like he always does. Plus, for at least the next three years the cap is going up every year. We good. Strike while the iron is hot. [Reply]
Can we just make this happen already! Chiefs are clearly the best fit for him, there's mutual interest, C Jones is recruiting so he'd probably sign an extension that allows us to afford Hop... the suspense is killing me! But I wonder if this isn't a post draft move, which would be even more impressive IMO. [Reply]
Originally Posted by scho63:
I bet if we want Hopkins, we could find a way
to sign him much easier than OBJ.
Of course we could but why overpay? Play the waiting game by being patient just like a lion waiting in the brush ready to ambush his unsuspecting prey.:-) [Reply]
Eh, you don't necessarily "have" to have him, I'd wait and see how the draft shakes out. Maybe a WR you really like falls to you at 31 and you dont' need Hopkins. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
Eh, you don't necessarily "have" to have him, I'd wait and see how the draft shakes out. Maybe a WR you really like falls to you at 31 and you dont' need Hopkins.
Rookie WRs don’t tend to make much of here. Hopkins would be a very nice addition if the price in picks and salary is right. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tredadda:
Rookie WRs don’t tend to make much of here. Hopkins would be a very nice addition if the price in picks and salary is right.
Yeah, I wouldn't have a problem with it, but if you are taking one in the first round or two, this whole "it takes a while to learn or he needs time" stuff is for the birds.
