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 Mecca:
Of course you could also view it this way...
How often do you get a chance to win 2 in a row and adding Hopkins to the offense makes this team that much harder to deal with.
Depends on his cost from a picks/salary perspective. KC still needs to address LT, which will be possibly trading up which will cost picks or pay Brown Jr. which will not be cheap. They also need to pay Jones, will need to address RT as well. Not against Hopkins, especially if we get him cheap. If not then pass as this team won it this year with JAGS at WR. [Reply]
However, he's that dude. he's kind of the best of Sammy Watkins in terms of his ability to be a YAC monster. Almost Jerry Rice-esque ability to beat press man as well as find the soft spots in zones, and make catches under duress, but with Stefon Diggs' huge catch radius and elite hands. He's also one of the best situational receivers, similar to Travis, in his ability to see the coverage and make route adjustments on the fly; he can play beyond the Xs and Os.
Even at 30, you're kind of getting the 'lite' versions of those receivers physically, but with those ridiculous hands. [Reply]
Chiefsplanet believes Kelce will still be producing when he's 50. No need to upgrade over Kadarius Toney and MVS. Lets just pay the fat guy and try to keep on trucking. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
There's a reason that if we made this move all of the other fans would like mother ****er! and complain.
This is where I am at as well. You give Andy Reid an offense consisting of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and DHop in addition to a complete wildcard and lottery ticket in Toney...my goodness...good luck to the rest of the league. Ill take the Chiefs over the field for the SB winner next year.
Reid traded for Terrell Owens at 30 years old...just sayin...DHop is 30. [Reply]
If he were a free agent? Sure. If the Cards would trade him for a 4th or later? Sure.
But this is really just Benji throwing shit at the wall as we've effectively become the new Patriots: Aging star talent looking to revitalize his career, lets just assume he'll go to KC!
But this doesn't fit Veach's M.O at all. Trade a top 3 round draft pick for an aging, expensive player? Since when do the Chiefs do that? They don't. [Reply]
With the way Veach has been drafting, I’m all for keeping the capital unless you come across a Toney type of situation (value plus cost controlled years). [Reply]
