The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly close to finalizing a trade for DeAndre Hopkins, the wide receiver from the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN. At 32 years old, Hopkins will bolster the Chiefs’ receiving group, which has been dealing with injuries to players like Rashee Rice, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The Chiefs are anticipated to trade a fifth-round pick that could upgrade to a fourth-round selection to the Titans in exchange for DeAndre Hopkins. This season, Hopkins has recorded 15 receptions for 173 yards on a Titans team that has only managed one win and has faced challenges at the quarterback position. He dealt with a knee injury during training camp, but it did not require surgery. Last season, he had 75 catches for 1,057 yards while playing for Tennessee.
DeAndre Hopkins is the third notable wide receiver to be traded in just over a week. Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders dealt Davante Adams to the New York Jets, while the Cleveland Browns traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills. Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams are reportedly in talks with teams regarding former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs currently hold the best record in the NFL at 6-0, but they are looking to add a receiver to support quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Marquise Brown is not expected to return this season after undergoing shoulder surgery last month for an injury sustained during the preseason. Rashee Rice is also sidelined for the remainder of the season following surgery two weeks ago to address a knee injury he suffered in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Meanwhile, JuJu Smith-Schuster missed the Chiefs’ recent win over the San Francisco 49ers due to a hamstring injury and has already been ruled out for their Week 8 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
This marks the third consecutive season the Chiefs have made an in-season trade for a wide receiver. In 2022, they traded a third and a sixth-round pick to the New York Giants for Kadarius Toney, who is no longer with the team but made a key punt return in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2023.
Last season, the Chiefs acquired Mecole Hardman from the Jets in exchange for a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick. Hardman had previously signed with the Jets as a free agent but caught the game-winning pass in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII and rejoined the Chiefs this offseason.