The Kansas City Chiefs have announced a trade with the Tennessee Titans to acquire wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The deal, confirmed on Thursday, involves the Titans receiving a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft, which could become a fourth-rounder if the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl and Hopkins plays at least 60% of the snaps. Additionally, the Titans will cover $2.5 million of Hopkins’ remaining $8 million salary for this season.
This trade comes as the Chiefs face a receiving crisis, particularly after Rashee Rice sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. The team’s issues were compounded by Marquise “Hollywood” Brown’s shoulder injury in preseason and JuJu Smith-Schuster’s recent hamstring injury, which has sidelined him for this Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. With further setbacks, including placing Skyy Moore on injured reserve due to a core muscle injury, the Chiefs have urgently needed additional receiving talent.
Hopkins, a seasoned 12-year player and a five-time Pro Bowler, is in the last year of a two-year contract he signed with the Titans in July. After recovering from a torn MCL sustained in the offseason, he has made 15 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown across six games this season. His arrival offers quarterback Patrick Mahomes a crucial target as he navigates a depleted receiving lineup.
Mahomes expressed his confidence in the Chiefs’ receivers but acknowledged the challenges faced this season, especially after trading away star receivers like Davante Adams and Amari Cooper. The team’s best remaining healthy receivers, rookie Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson, have combined for just 22 receptions through the first seven weeks.
In previous seasons, acquiring a wide receiver before the trade deadline has proven beneficial for the Chiefs. They brought in Kadarius Toney in 2022, who made a significant impact in Super Bowl LVII, and Mecole Hardman last year, who scored the winning touchdown in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII.
On the other hand, the 1-5 Titans are re-evaluating their strategy following this trade and others, such as trading linebacker Ernest Jones IV to the Seahawks. Coach Brian Callahan acknowledged the difficult position the team is in and the need to adapt to the realities of the NFL.