DeAndre Hopkins: Why the Chiefs are trading for the wide receiver

While you were sleeping, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans.

So why did Kansas City make the move? We are here for you.

Chiefs-Titans exchange terms for Hopkins

First, the trade terms: The Chiefs wanted to avoid giving up a Day 1 or Day 2 pick, which amounts to anything between the first and third rounds.

This led to Kansas City moving away from someone like Cooper Kupp from the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles is reportedly looking for a second-rounder for his services. In the Hopkins trade, the Chiefs are giving up a fifth-round NFL draft pick that can become a fourth-round pick under certain conditions (that part is still being clarified at the time of this writing).

Salary cap help

The Chiefs were a little tight on the 2024 salary cap (our estimates here), so they needed a team that would be willing to work with them. Tennessee was willing to work with Kansas City to reduce that number, but exact details are unknown at this time.

It's worth noting that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach worked with Titans general manager Ran Carthon to pull off the blockbuster trade to send L'Jarius Sneed to Tennessee earlier this year. So the relationship to negotiate such a deal was already established.

What Hopkins can do for the Chiefs

Hopkins' height and weight (listed at 6'1″ and 200 pounds) are in the range of wide receivers Rashee Rice (6'1″ and 200 pounds) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (6'8″ and 200 pounds) – something that was important with every player the Chiefs landed.

With Rice likely out for the season (and Smith-Schuster dealing with a hamstring injury that will cause him to miss at least Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders), tight end Travis was of utmost importance Finding Kelce a capable target.

“The guy across from Kelce is really important at the end,” head coach Andy Reid said on Oct. 16, “that he knows how to play the game and can do similar things to Kelce.” If you can do that, you're up Something going on offensively this way.

“So (JuJu Smith-Schuster) has done this before, (former WR Byron) Pringle has done this before him. We had guys in those spots who could do that, so that’s a positive thing.”

Reid will have an opportunity to speak specifically about Hopkins during his usual media appearance late Wednesday morning. Next up to take the podium will be quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

statistics

So far in the 2024 season, the 32-year-old Hopkins has 15 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown, but it's worth noting that quarterback Will Levis hasn't been particularly good for Tennessee. Levis was ranked 38th among quarterbacks with at least 62 dropbacks Professional football focus.

Hopkins teamed with Ryan Tannehill for half the season in 2023 and achieved the seventh 1,000-yard season of his career.

Chiefs depth chart vs. Las Vegas

With the addition of Hopkins, the Chiefs will have five wide receivers active for their Week 8 game against the Raiders: Hopkins, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore.