Chiefs acquire WR DeAndre Hopkins in trade with Titans

Wide receivers have been the focus of trades throughout 2024, and the reigning Super Bowl champions have made sure to join in. On Wednesday morning, the Chiefs bolstered their receiving group by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans.

The Chiefs finalized a deal to bring in the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Hopkins from Tennessee. This trade comes just a week after the New York Jets picked up Davante Adams and the Buffalo Bills secured Amari Cooper to strengthen their struggling passing games.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Titans would receive a conditional fourth-round pick in the trade, and Tennessee pay roughly half of Hopkins' remaining salary. ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news.

The Chiefs pulled the trigger on trading for DeAndre Hopkins after a slew of injuries hit their receiving corps. Their No. 1 option, Rashee Rice, went down with a season-ending torn ACL in Week 4, and free-agent addition Hollywood Brown, who was slated to be the No. 2 receiver, sustained a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason. Brown’s chances of returning in time for the postseason are described as "slim."

To make matters worse, JuJu Smith-Schuster, who stepped into Rice's role as the primary slot receiver, is now nursing a hamstring injury, leaving Kansas City thin at wideout apart from rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy.

Landing Hopkins was a no-brainer, given the clear need to address the team's shortage of receivers. Although he started the season off slowly due to a previous injury, the playmaking veteran has shown he's still capable of winning one-on-one battles. His ability to haul in difficult catches in tight coverage remains sharp, despite his age.

The Chiefs were among the contenders to sign Hopkins in 2023 after his release from Arizona, but Tennessee edged them out. Now, Kansas City finally got their man.

Although Hopkins has recorded just 15 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown across six games this season, partly down to injury issues and a struggling Titans offense, the veteran wideout is coming off a 2023 campaign where he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the seventh time in his career.

At 32 years old and in his 12th NFL season, it's unrealistic to expect Hopkins to replicate his prime years with the Houston Texans. However, his crisp route-running, ability to make contested grabs, and skill at beating single coverage remain top-notch. His presence could also bring valuable leadership to the Chiefs down the stretch as he chases his first-ever Lombardi Trophy.

Bringing in a proven talent like Hopkins represents a low-risk, high-reward move for Kansas City. With the wide receiver depth now bolstered, the Chiefs should have a strong trio in Hopkins, Worthy, and Smith-Schuster once the latter returns from his hamstring issue.

While he's been limited by a preseason knee injury and a struggling Titans passing game, in Kansas City, Hopkins will be expected to elevate an offense that managed just 145 passing yards in Sunday's win over the 49ers amid a spate of injuries to the receiving corps.

Despite their unbeaten 6-0 record, the Kansas City Chiefs chose to follow the lead of several AFC rivals, making a headline-grabbing move to land a high-profile wide receiver just before the NFL trade deadline. Hopkins, currently nursing a knee injury, has been labeled as "questionable" for their Week 8 matchup.