The Kansas City Chiefs are the frontrunners for superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. In a recent podcast with PHNX Cardinals, Benjamin Allbright revealed that the buzz around the league is that Hopkins’ likeliest landing spot is Kansas City.
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Report: Kansas City Chiefs the Favorite to Land DeAndre Hopkins
As it stands, the Chiefs have the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They also have a decent amount of cap space and would hugely benefit from the acquisition of an all-star receiver like Hopkins. While Patrick Mahomes was named MVP for the 2022 season, his primary weapons were Travis Kelce and a plethora of non-elite wide receivers. Hopkins would offer Mahomes a second elite target.
The Arizona Cardinals have been open to trading Hopkins for a while now. They fielded some calls during last year’s trade deadline and a report revealed that the team was looking to offload his huge salary as they enter a rebuild. It is believed that Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon have both spoken with Hopkins about his future, though nothing more is known. Should the Cardinals trade Hopkins, he would free up approximately $8 million in cap space but still incur over $20 million in dead cap.
In 2022, the 30-year-old started nine games, catching 64 balls and managing 717 yards and three touchdowns. The five-time Pro Bowler is widely regarded as one of the league’s top ten receivers. Due to his suspension over violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, Hopkins missed six games at the start of the season and saw his no-trade clause voided.
DeAndre Hopkins and the Chiefs
Hopkins would be a perfect fit for the Chiefs. The team traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins last year but still won the Super Bowl without an elite boundary threat. Hill was dynamic for Kansas City and opened up a lot for the offense. While the Chiefs have some decent young playmakers in Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, none of them are on the level of Hopkins or Hill.
DeAndre Hopkins is a different type of receiver from the ones that Andy Reid has at his disposal. While those guys are smaller, run-after-catch playmakers, Hopkins is a ‘safety-net’ target. He is a physical receiver who is effective at high-pointing balls and making tough catches in traffic. With that said, he is a good playmaker with the ball in his hands too.
Along with Kelce, Hopkins would undoubtedly make the Kansas City offense a juggernaut. Kelce is one of the greatest ever tight ends. He is a mismatch machine who always finds a way to get open (and has reliable hands). Hopkins is similar, with elite route running too. His safe hands also mean that he is still open when he is covered. In goal-to-go scenarios, the Kelce-Hopkins tandem would be lethal.
On the field, there is no doubt that Hopkins would elevate the Chiefs to even greater heights. The fit also makes sense for Hopkins too. He is currently ring-hunting as he approaches the regression age for wide receivers. With Kansas City looking to build a dynasty, Hopkins’ best chances would come with Mahomes and company. It is also the case that the Chiefs have a decent amount of cap space. They could even restructure or extend Hopkins to distribute his cap hit over a few years.
…@PatrickMahomes is different 👀
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) February 13, 2023
Trade Packages
In terms of trade packages, the Chiefs are in a good spot with their assets to make a run at DeAndre Hopkins. He is valued at around a second-round pick and so there are a few different ways that Arizona and Kansas City can strike a deal.
The first scenario is that Kansas City give up their first-round selection (31) and receiver Hopkins and a mid-round selection. If the Chiefs want more, they could try to give 31 and a late 2024 selection for Hopkins, a 2023 mid-rounder, and a 2024 mid-rounder from the Cardinals. The Chiefs could also try to offer their 2024 first-round selection (future firsts are worth less by approximately one round).
The second scenario is that the Chiefs give up their second-round pick (63) and a fourth-round pick (122 or 134). This seems likeliest and would be a good compromise for both sides.
According to a couple agents I’ve spoken with the Cardinals looking for at least a second round pick and a conditional pick for DeAndre Hopkins. These conversations are taking place at the combine.
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) March 1, 2023
Main Photo: Michael Chow – USA Today Sports
