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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He’s been playing on one year deals for 2 yrs. I’m not 100% sure his market isn’t a little overstated but if not I still think they can get him for less if they’re willing to go like 3 yrs 36 million.
Gives him security and at 26/27 yrs old, I think he’s worth the gamble. He just fits too damn well.
Originally Posted by O.city:
Yeah we just need to draft…checks notes….a starting DE, a LT and a wr
Shouldn’t be a problem, I’ve been assured to expect 6 or 7 starters from every draft that’s definitely the new norm
You hedge your bets with vet bargains, but that's what you try to do, yes.
We don't need a draftee to start at WR, which is good because they almost certainly wouldn't no matter what in Reid's offense.
You bet your ass we're going to draft an OT and a DE too; maybe more than one each. And you can also safely assume that they will sign vets at less than top of the market as insurance policies.
That's assuming we don't just sign some guys outright, or possibly trade for them.
Nobody expects 6 or 7 starters. But you're going to have to draft well or you're fucked with a QB eating 23% of your cap. Period. There's no way around it.
I don't know why I have to keep explaining this to you like you're four fucking years old, but it's getting tiresome.
No QB in the history of the NFL post free agency had ever won a SB with a cap number above like 13% and change. Mahomes did it at 17% this year. Not Brady, not Manning. Nobody. Previous high was Steve Young in '94.
You're going to have to build your team through the draft, period. Add thrifty free agents to fill holes, but by and large you're going to have to draft well or you're screwed.
Originally Posted by BryanBusby:
Juju did his job here but I'm not giving 18-20 AAV to a guy that already needs to get his knees drained multiple times a season.
Originally Posted by Chris Meck:
You hedge your bets with vet bargains, but that's what you try to do, yes.
We don't need a draftee to start at WR, which is good because they almost certainly wouldn't no matter what in Reid's offense.
You bet your ass we're going to draft an OT and a DE too; maybe more than one each. And you can also safely assume that they will sign vets at less than top of the market as insurance policies.
That's assuming we don't just sign some guys outright, or possibly trade for them.
Nobody expects 6 or 7 starters. But you're going to have to draft well or you're fucked with a QB eating 23% of your cap. Period. There's no way around it.
I don't know why I have to keep explaining this to you like you're four fucking years old, but it's getting tiresome.
No QB in the history of the NFL post free agency had ever won a SB with a cap number above like 13% and change. Mahomes did it at 17% this year. Not Brady, not Manning. Nobody. Previous high was Steve Young in '94.
You're going to have to build your team through the draft, period. Add thrifty free agents to fill holes, but by and large you're going to have to draft well or you're screwed.
You HAVE to spread out your cap dollars.
One other thing that the Chiefs will have to do: trade guys with a year left on their deals before extending them.
Probably won’t happen with Jones, but expect more Hill trades.