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 MahomesMagic:
DHop also almost eliminates the need for top tackle play as Kelce/DHop will have someone open almost instantly every snap.
Yeah, and I'm not saying we should even do this, but having DHop on the field with Travis means we could trot a rookie LT out there (or Lewan, for example) and not worry much about the LT getting beat early. One of them is going to get a single and get open right now. It takes some of the pressure off that LT to have to consistently make his block. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Yeah, and I'm not saying we should even do this, but having DHop on the field with Travis means we could trot a rookie LT out there (or Lewan, for example) and not worry much about the LT getting beat early. One of them is going to get a single and get open right now. It takes some of the pressure off that LT to have to consistently make his block.
Veach vowed to never have Mahomes playing behind shit again.
It just gives us a little more flexibility. [Reply]
Originally Posted by MahomesMagic:
Veach vowed to never have Mahomes playing behind shit again.
It just gives us a little more flexibility.
Just make him stand further back in shotgun. Itll be fine. Just need to find a fat guy with long arms that can get in the way just long enough. [Reply]
If we go 4 wide you are fuuuuuucked.... Another underrated part of Hopkins game is his YAC. He is very familiar with running WR screens (Which we love) We can also have Toney and Hopkins be outside and have Skyy running the slot..... But thats also a great point because all three WR's have slot experience.. The formations we could run would really fuck defenses and stretch them out.
NOT TO MENTION
With serious threats to outside, our Running game will open up. Which will take a man or two out of the box. Meaning Mahomes wont be facing 8 man boxes as much. [Reply]