The pros and cons of DeAndre Hopkins trade for KC Chiefs

Conclusions about DeAndre Hopkins

Let’s state a few obvious points up front.

1. If the Chiefs decide that Hopkins has some real long-term health concerns and he cannot be trusted to stay on the field going forward, these discussions won’t happen.
2. If Hopkins is going to demand some sort of market-setting deal once again, the Chiefs should also not be interested.
3. If any trade for Hopkins at this stage is going to require a first-round pick and more, the Chiefs should also remain disinterested.

Beyond that, however, there’s room here for some real consideration.

If the Chiefs wanted to play a bit of financial hardball, Hopkins’ current deal is actually great money for a receiver with his ability and any team should be happy to pay him what is left on the deal. It’s likely what a player like JuJu Smith-Schuster should command on the open market (speaking generally) and the Chiefs are going to pay someone that much anyway.

Second, as good as Smith-Schuster has been, Hopkins is the better receiver at this point and that’s even if he declines a bit. That’s not a knock on JSS, but fans can easily forget just how good Hopkins has been and can be.

As much as a youth movement might be underway, the Chiefs also are “all-in” every season. Mahomes is the quarterback. Andy Reid is the head coach. Super Bowl or Bust is the mantra every season which means the Chiefs should also be looking at the present moment for whatever value they can add while also looking to avoid being hamstrung for the long term (a la the Rams).

If the Chiefs have the chance to add a player like Hopkins for moderate draft assets, it would be easy to see why Brett Veach would pick up the phone. At the same time, there’s nothing with absolute certainty or clarity here, either, which is why it’s easy to understand the other side. Every move in the NFL has some level of risk attached and that’s certainly true of any deal for Hopkins.