The Kansas City Chiefs had big hopes for their offense this season. However, injuries to Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice put a damper on those plans and limited the unit’s explosiveness.
While the Chiefs were able to stave off defeat for nearly the entire season, their production wasn’t as strong as fans had come to expect. As a result, they decided to make a mid-season acquisition for one of the best wide receivers of the generation, DeAndre Hopkins.
How did one of the more high-profile trades in recent NFL history come together?
Details of the Kansas City Chiefs’ DeAndre Hopkins Trade
The Chiefs gave up relatively little for a player of Hopkins’ stature. He was traded for a fifth-round pick that would elevate to a fourth-round pick if Kansas City makes the Super Bowl and Hopkins played 60% of the snaps.
Giving up a Day 3 pick for a reliable veteran receiver is a solid opportunity for the Chiefs. Moreover, he didn’t qualify for the 60% snaps threshold, meaning Tennessee will receive just a fifth-round pick. With a chance at a first-in-history feat in front of them, it made sense for Kansas City to go after Hopkins.
Why Did the Titans Trade Away Hopkins?
Given there was one year remaining on his deal, the Titans would have had to part ways with Hopkins one way or another. But, with Will Levis taking over quarterbacking duties for the entire season, Tennessee quickly pivoted to setting sights on the NFL Draft.
As such, the 32-year-old Hopkins wouldn’t factor into their plans. The wide receiver’s stock had fallen considerably over the past few seasons. First, it was injuries that saw him dress for just 19 games in his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Once he came to Tennessee, his production followed suit. While he was able to put together a 1,000-yard campaign, his catch rate dropped by nearly 15%. His 2024 season was less impressive, posting 173 yards in six games.
With all that in mind, getting anything back was a net bonus for the Titans. On the other hand, a Chiefs team decimated by injuries needed reinforcement. Hopkins’ ability to win at the catch point, along with his experience, made him a valuable addition.
So far, the results have been almost unanimously positive.
How Has Hopkins Impacted the Chiefs?
Since coming over to Kansas City, Hopkins has been a major blessing for the defending champions. The Chiefs finished 15-2 with Hopkins assisting in the second half of the season.
During his 10 games with the Chiefs, he tallied 437 yards and four touchdowns on just 41 receptions. The best third-down offense in the league, Kansas City was a top-10 unit before falling to 12th in PFN’s Offense+ metric after resting their starters in Week 18.
His gravity has allowed rookie Xavier Worthy to thrive. The first-round pick recently gushed about Hopkins’ impact.
“We just have normal conversations, just talk. Like, ‘Oh, yeah, we see this’ or ‘He does this. When he does this, pay attention to that,’” Worthy said. “Just little details to look out for in the game.”
Kansas City now has Worthy, Hopkins, and Brown in the fold for its highly-anticipated playoff run. The production wasn’t outstanding in the regular season, but as the stakes increase, so should the Chiefs’ potency.
