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Henry McKenna
NFL Reporter
The Kansas City Chiefs have found their new WR1 for what feels like the fifth time in a year.
With Kansas City trading for DeAndre Hopkins, Patrick Mahomes will look to get the most out of the 32-year-old wideout. The deal, which will send a conditional fourth-round pick to the Titans, follows injuries to Chiefs receivers Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Hopkins was on the final year of his contract with the Titans, who, per multiple reports, took on roughly half of the receiver’s $5.05 million base salary to accommodate the Chiefs’ cap limitations. Hopkins was off to a slow start with the 1-5 Titans, with 15 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown.
This is the third straight year in which the Chiefs have traded for a receiver midseason. It was Kadarius Toney in 2022, Mecole Hardman in 2023 and now Hopkins in 2024. The trade for Hopkins is an indication of how the previous two trades have not worked out. (And for that matter, it’s an indication of how the recent draft picks of Xavier Worthy and Skyy Moore have not brought immediate returns — though it’s far too soon to determine Worthy’s long-term prospects.)
With Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach struggling to get returns out of midseason trades for wideouts, it’s fair to question whether Hopkins can get it done for the Chiefs.
Hopkins is currently tied for 28th with Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. on ESPN Analytics’ “open” rating that measures separation. That’s not bad company, by any means. But it’s a decline from 2023, when Hopkins was one of the top separators in the NFL, tied with Garrett Wilson and A.J. Brown for fifth, per ESPN Analytics. Hopkins also managed to put up more than 1,000 receiving yards last season despite an adverse quarterback situation.
Given that Hopkins is on the older side, it’s concerning that his production has waned significantly to start the 2024 season. It’s clear that Will Levis, one of…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/can-deandre-hopkins-reverse-chiefs-trend-poor-midseason-wr-trades
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Publish date : 2024-10-23 15:01:24
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