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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I still love the idea of getting DHop. I guess one thing that is a little alarming is that the new scouting report seems to be he doesn’t get open like he used to but he will catch every damn ball you throw his way no matter how close it is. I wonder if that’s more suited for a heave ball qb than an efficient qb like mahomes. But no doubt mahomes would slay and I just want him to have a weapon so we can stop the narrative that he doesn’t need weapons. [Reply]
Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501:
I still love the idea of getting DHop. I guess one thing that is a little alarming is that the new scouting report seems to be he doesn’t get open like he used to but he will catch every damn ball you throw his way no matter how close it is. I wonder if that’s more suited for a heave ball qb than an efficient qb like mahomes. But no doubt mahomes would slay and I just want him to have a weapon so we can stop the narrative that he doesn’t need weapons.
I think there's a distinction here.
Mahomes doesn't NEED a weapon like Hopkins. We found out last year that he CAN do it when called upon.
The question is really whether that is sustainable. I think most of us believe it's not. [Reply]
Obviously no one knows anything right now but my best guess for teams involved are the Chiefs, Patriots and Ravens. Giants could be interested I guess. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Obviously no one knows anything right now but my best guess for teams involved are the Chiefs, Patriots and Ravens. Giants could be interested I guess.
Didn't the Bills recently clear up $32M+ in cap space? [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Obviously no one knows anything right now but my best guess for teams involved are the Chiefs, Patriots and Ravens. Giants could be interested I guess.
Remember when I said I can't figure out OBJ's motivation?
D-Hop IS one of those ring-chasing vets and a guy who might be able to force himself into HoF consideration with a strong late-career surge.
And if he won't convert his base into bonus, his pool of suitors is going to dry up fast. He has a lot of say in where he lands here.
He's not going to the Ravens who don't actually have a QB right now. Or the Giants or Patriots who ain't winning shit. I mean...unless they decide to throw a MASSIVE pile of money at him.
If he's at all motivated by a potential championship and/or a chance to stack up some numbers, he can put his thumb on the scale and the Chiefs would absolutely have to be considered the favorites at that point, right? [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Remember when I said I can't figure out OBJ's motivation?
D-Hop IS one of those ring-chasing vets and a guy who might be able to force himself into HoF consideration with a strong late-career surge.
And if he won't convert his base into bonus, his pool of suitors is going to dry up fast. He has a lot of say in where he lands here.
He's not going to the Ravens who don't actually have a QB right now. Or the Giants or Patriots who ain't winning shit. I mean...unless they decide to throw a MASSIVE pile of money at him.
If he's at all motivated by a potential championship and/or a chance to stack up some numbers, he can put his thumb on the scale and the Chiefs would absolutely have to be considered the favorites at that point, right?
You would think that we would be. That PED suspension might fuck us though because it got rid of his no trade clause. [Reply]
Is Hopkins better than Cooks, yes but Cooks is very good and still very productive.
Hopkins trade 2023 4th and 2024 5th. That should get it done. I just dont see a 3rd after the Cooks deal.
Cards need another RB, a 4th and CEH could be another option. He is still a 1st round RB on a rookie contract. They may feel its enough sweetner to do it.
Cards threw in a broken David Johnson to sweeten the deal in the trade for Hopkins, you never know. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Yeah, because they were over. They're at $10 million right now...just like us.
Hmmm....they'd be an interesting spot for him as well.
Wonder if he and Diggs would complement each other. Probably? They could use Diggs a little more downfield and have Hopkins backfill the underneath routes that Diggs was running while Davis was out there dropping passes last season.
Yuck. Imma pretend none of you fellas pointed this out. [Reply]