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 Chris Meck:
He's worth a lot more to teams with shit QB's that can't score points.
He makes little difference on a team with Mahomes that is already the #1 offense.
I don't know why you guys can't understand this. There is literally ONE football to distribute.
If we're going to spend that kind of money, I'd much rather spend it on OT's so we can actually watch a healthy Mahomes in the Super Bowl for a change.
We were damn lucky to play in the SB this year. In the AFCCG Mahomes' receiving core was Skyy Moore, MVS and Marcus Kemp. Why not give Mahomes a superstar and go scorched earth on people. Veach killed the draft last year and acquired a TON of cheap talent. Why not celebrate that and go buy yourself something pretty?? [Reply]
Originally Posted by ForeverIowan:
We were damn lucky to play in the SB this year. In the AFCCG Mahomes' receiving core was Skyy Moore, MVS and Marcus Kemp. Why not give Mahomes a superstar and go scorched earth on people. Veach killed the draft last year and acquired a TON of cheap talent. Why not celebrate that and go buy yourself something pretty??
Yeah, why not totally eschew the strategy that got you there? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla:
Yeah, why not totally eschew the strategy that got you there?
Eschew the strategy?? NFL GMs hope and pray they have consecutive successful drafts to put themselves in position to go out there and acquire future HOF players. Lets not act like if the ball bounces the other way in the Cincy games 2022 and 2023 we win the SB with Tyreek in 2022 and lose the AFCCG in 2023. If one play goes the other way in each game everyone would be pounding the table claiming we need a superstar receiver to push us over the edge again. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Abba-Dabba:
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.
Lol, whatever.
Like whether DHop ultimately is a first ballot HOFer 6-10 years from now matters in this particular conversation. What I think vs. what you appear to think about DHop are not the same, but so what?
It's what he can do right now for the offense, for Toney/Skyy, for Kelce, and Pat that's pertinent here. And if you can't see that DHop is one of the best to ever do it, well, i think you're wrong, but let's leave that part out of the conversation. He is still a top-10 WR in everyone's book, and plays a skillset that would be a perfect fit for the offense.
Then there's what he could do for our young WR room in terms of game prep, body/health management, situational awareness, etc. Things that don't currently exist in that room.
There's going to be plenty of years when the Chiefs trot out WR rooms that are populated entirely by JAGs as Pat's cap hit grows, but this next couple three seasons don't have to be a part of that period.
And people really need to stop trying to use the "Patriot Way" as an example of how to maintain a dynasty. Let's not forget that they went ten years without a SB W. And who were their WRs during that period? Can anyone remember who their WR1/WR2 combos were during that time?
How about GB? They had arguably the best QB in NFL history (before Mahomes) at the helm, and chose to populate his WR room with JAGs for most of that span. Their strict adherence to the idea that Rodgers would just carry the majority of the offensive load earned them one Ring. One SB appearance.
All I'm saying is that there could be a huge opportunity here, instead of following a now well-worn path that doesn't necessarily lead to greatness, and has a rather high percentage chance of leading to nowhere special. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla:
Are you suggesting that what we've done the past TWO drafts isn't sustainable?
At that level?
Look, I don't necessarily agree with O but thinking Veach is going to bat .800 year in and year out is probably not wise. Simple statistics suggest than some years will be better than others.
The good thing about Veach is he's not a guy that only has one way. He's shown a propensity to make moves when they need to be made while still drafting well in the meantime. [Reply]