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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Shit, we all want Toney to eventually be the WR1? No better mentor than a true WR1 like DHop, who just happens to have many of the exact same attributes/skillsets.
But nah, let’s not have Toney/Skyy learn from one of the best to ever do it, let’s just squander these formative years learning from MVS and the like. Makes sense.
That's assuming Hop would even be a good mentor. He might take the Rodgers/Big Ben route and say "It's not my job to show these young guys anything." I think that happens more often than we hear about it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
That's not what I said, you just can't count on it being there. It's basically a bonus because at this point you have no idea.
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Of course we try to maximize his skillset. But if he can't stay healthy (and history has shown so far that he can't) none of that even matters.
You can pencil him in as a starter but just to assume he's eventually become a #1 WR is a big reach right now.
Originally Posted by raybec 4:
That's assuming Hop would even be a good mentor. He might take the Rodgers/Big Ben route and say "It's not my job to show these young guys anything." I think that happens more often than we hear about it.
So the issue with KT mostly lies with his injury history, right?
Go back and take another look at that DHop video I posted. Notice how he tries to maximize his YAC, but when he’s out of options, he protects himself and gets OOB/goes down? Wonder how he avoided a major injury until last season?
Think KT might need to learn from someone who plays like he does, but avoids injuries? That worth anything? [Reply]
Originally Posted by BleedingRed:
I'll say it, Hopkins has as many yards a Mason in 7 fewer seasons.......
It doesn't always come down to yardage numbers. If it were that simple.
Only reason I used Derrick Mason and Gary Clark is that they have a higher PFR HOFm than DHop. PFR HOFm takes into account a lot more than just receiving yardage.
For the numbers on HOFm
Derrick Mason - 61.58
Gary Clark - 60.20
DeAndre Hopkins - 59.84
The avg numbers for all WR in the HOF is 103.63 [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Yeah, and while Gary Clark was great, he also benefitted from the fact that he played with the likes of Art Monk? R. Sanders? His QB was Doug Williams/Theisman!?!?
D. Mason same type of circumstances.
Not saying DHop is head and shoulders better than either, but those guys aren't better than DHop either.
Which one would argue that is one of the reasons why DHop's receiving yardage numbers are higher than both Mason or Clark.
The whole point is that DHop is no where near a lock for the HOF. Like what was claimed. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BleedingRed:
My exact thought process...
Like guys he would be the BEST WR he has ever had. Why the **** not, yes will we lose some guys? Sure but we have already LOST guys because of contracts.
What I think Hopkins can potentially provide is 2-3 year window of TRUE dominance on the offensive front.
We HAVE to capitilize on not just Mahomes window (Bigger) but Kelces window. We have 3-5 year left of top tier TE play.
Does ADDING HOPKINS allow Kelce to dominate a little longer?
I mean no way to a second for a guy coming off two shortened seasons. I dont think anybody is doing that... Mebbe a desperate team, but not us. That being said, you bring that price down - A third and another pick? I would do that. [Reply]