Early Wednesday morning, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled off the type of trade that you typically would see in Madden, landing superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans for a fourth-round pick.
At 32 years old, Hopkins will give struggling quarterback Patrick Mahomes some much-needed security in the passing game. This move comes after the Chiefs lost Rashee Rice to season-ending knee surgery and Marquise Hollywood Brown was only able to suit up for one game due to a shoulder injury.
The Chiefs needed receiver help in a bad way. And while Hopkins might not be the same player that lit up the league during his days with the Houston Texans, he’s remained a reliable, veteran presence in this later stage of his career.
One thing is certain. The Chiefs are very serious about this third straight Super Bowl.
They’re the only undefeated team in the NFL. Yet they’re still buying talented veterans to support their roster, as they’re self-aware enough to realize that the offense just has not looked right despite their perfect mark on the season.
Entering Week 8 of the NFL season, Mahomes has more interceptions (eight) than touchdown passes (six), and one would have to believe that’s greatly due to the lack of playmaking on Kansas City’s roster.
While Hopkins is no spring chicken at 32 years old, Travis Kelce certainly looks like his better days are behind him at 35 years old. He’s started seasons slow before, so hopefully he can bounce back when it matters. Inversely, 21-year-old phenom Xavier Worthy looks like he has the tools to succeed in the NFL, but he’s still a bit of a work in progress.
Outside of those two players? The Chiefs would just be playing with fire, trusting JuJu Smith-Schuster (who is also injured), Skyy Moore, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman to take them on a deep playoff run in this loaded AFC.
The Buffalo Bills added Amari Cooper, and it paid dividends in his first game in uniform. The New York Jets desperately tried to catch up in the AFC East by adding Davante Adams to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. The Chiefs needed to be buyers to compete with what will become a true arms race down the stretch in the AFC.
Adding Hopkins for a fifth-round pick that could become a fourth-rounder based on his production is a no-brainer for the Chiefs. He was stuck with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph as his quarterbacks in Tennessee, catching just 15 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown on the season. Last year, he caught 75 passes for 1,073 yards and seven touchdowns.
You can tell there’s still some talent in there. The gas tank isn’t empty. And there’s nobody better than Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid to extract what he has left.
Hopkins will give the Chiefs much-needed security in their receiver room. The Chiefs give Hopkins a genuine chance at reviving his career and his best chance at a Super Bowl since they defeated his Texans in the divisional round of the 2020 NFL Divisional Round.
This might just be a match made in football heaven.
