DeAndre Hopkins Joins the Kansas City Chiefs: A New Chapter Begins
Three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is hitting the ground running as he joins the Kansas City Chiefs. The trade between the Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans became official on Thursday, with Kansas City sending a conditional fifth-round pick to acquire the 32-year-old playmaker. According to NFL Network, this pick could elevate to a fourth-round selection if the Chiefs make it to the Super Bowl and Hopkins is on the field for 60 percent of the snaps during the final 11 games of the regular season.
Expressing his gratitude, Hopkins stated, “I have to thank Titans general manager Ran Carthon and his staff for trading me to a contending team, because those guys could have traded me anywhere.”
Officially official.
Welcome to the kingdom of leaders, @DeAndreHopkins ?? pic.twitter.com/9yqz7pqSMi
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 24, 2024
Hopkins is diving into his new role with urgency, working tirelessly over the next three days in hopes of making his debut on Sunday. Just a day into his transition, he already recognizes the essence of the Chiefs’ winning culture. “This takes your game to another level. It requires concentration, motivation, and knowing that you are playing for something,” he shared.
Reflecting on his recent football experience, he added, “I haven’t played football in a significant way in a couple of years since we probably started 8-0 in Arizona. So this takes your game to a different level.”
The Chiefs are currently feeling the pinch at the wide receiver position due to injuries. Both Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (right knee) are on injured reserve, while JuJu Smith-Schuster recently aggravated his hamstring injury during the Chiefs’ 28-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Following this setback, Smith-Schuster has been waived by the undefeated Chiefs (6-0) as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) this Sunday.
For quarterback Patrick Mahomes, adapting to new offensive weapons is par for the course. He now shares the backfield with recently reacquired Kareem Hunt, as Isiah Pacheco is also on injured reserve. The Chiefs have a history of midseason acquisitions, having brought in players like Kadarius Toney from the New York Giants in 2022 and Mecole Hardman from the Jets last fall.
With a remarkable pass turnover rate of less than 4% and a knack for making contested catches, Hopkins brings a unique skill set to an offense that has struggled in the red zone at times. “I think in my time we’ve had receivers that can make some of those contested catches, and once you build that relationship and trust, you put it out there and let guys go out and make plays,” Mahomes noted. “I think that’s what makes Coach Andy Reid‘s offense special: It adapts to whoever’s in there.”
As a five-time Pro Bowl selection, Hopkins had an impressive last season with the Titans, leading the team in receptions (75), receiving yards (1,057), and receiving touchdowns (seven) over 17 games (16 starts).
Overall, Hopkins has amassed 943 career receptions for 12,528 yards and 79 touchdowns over 168 games (164 starts) for the Houston Texans (2013-19), Arizona Cardinals (2020-22), and the Titans. The Texans originally selected him with the 27th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Clemson.
To accommodate Hopkins on the 53-man roster, the Chiefs have placed fellow wide receiver Skyy Moore on injured reserve due to a core muscle injury. The 24-year-old has yet to catch a pass this season, with a total of 43 receptions for 494 yards and one touchdown in 36 career games (11 starts) since being drafted by Kansas City in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
