Chiefs ready for WR overhaul, other key lessons learned from DeAndre Hopkins trade

Every move in the NFL tells a story. Each acquisition says something about the front office's vision and the coaching staff's plan. How does a franchise want to invest? What areas are most important? Where does a team feel comfortable and what internal concerns can be discerned?

This is true of every move for every organization, and the bigger the deal, the more that can be learned. That's what makes the Kansas City Chiefs' trade for DeAndre Hopkins on Wednesday all the more interesting. Not only is it a new player at a position of need, but it also says several things about the team, the market, and the player.

If you're a "don't read too much into it" kind of fan, then this isn't the column for you. We're here to read between the lines and see what Brett Veach's decision to trade for Hopkins says about the Chiefs at this stage of the season—or at least how we'd interpret things.

The Chiefs have a very specific vision for DeAndre Hopkins

For teams in need of a wide receiver, this was a buyer's market.

That's odd to say given the remarkable number of teams in need of wide receivers—even the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers have yet to make their moves—but the Chiefs had plenty of solid veteran options to add before the NFL's trade deadline. Their choice of DeAndre Hopkins speaks volumes.

The Chiefs had plenty of other choices at various price points. They had a higher ceiling in Cooper Kupp. They had younger options, including Diontae Johnson. They had cheaper vets like Adam Thielen and players with more security attached in Amari Cooper. They had faster players like Darius Slayton, and slot options like Christian Kirk. They even had a familiar face in Demarcus Robinson available to them.

After sifting through their options, it was DeAndre Hopkins who was their ultimate pick, and while price mattered here, it's notable that the Chiefs have been interested in Hopkins in years past as well. This means shopping for Hopkins isn't just an emergency grab at the convenience store on the way home.

Instead, the trade for Hopkins shows a very clear vision ahead for how to best employ Hopkins alongside the talent already in-house within Andy Reid's offense. It should surprise no one when Hopkins puts up immediate numbers after arriving in Kansas City. The Chiefs know exactly how they'd like to take advantage of having a big, physical receiver alongside the likes of Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, and company.

The Chiefs know historic things are at stake

Through six games, the Chiefs are currently 6-0 and the only unbeaten team remaining in the NFL. They have a comfortable lead in the division with every reason to believe they'll land a ninth consecutive title rather easily.

Led by a suffocating defense that takes the pressure off the offense to some degree, the Chiefs could have coasted forward for a bit without giving up draft capital. They could have leaned on a free agent signing like Hunter Renfrow. They could have asked more from the practice squad like Nikko Remigio or Justyn Ross. They could have waited for some injured players to return like Isiah Pacheco and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Then there's also the late-season waivers for veterans that have provided players like Terrell Suggs in years past for Kansas City.

But that's not the case here at all for Brett Veach. The Titans got a decent return for an aging asset and no leverage. That means that Veach was willing to pay for a couple of things here. We've already discussed his love for Hopkins, but it's also true that this is a potentially historic season and that's not lost on Veach at this hour.

The Chiefs are chasing a third title. The injuries are piling up. While it's possible Smith-Schuster only misses one game with the hamstring injury, the truth is no one knows. Asking Nikko Remigio to be a regular-season hero in the face of losing the likes or Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown is a fool's errand. The Chiefs are all-in with a veteran because the need is immediate and the time is now.

The Chiefs seem ready to flush the WR position next spring

Going back to the practice squad for a second here.

Think of this: the Chiefs have now been hit by a WR injury at three separate points early in 2024 and they've never once invited their preseason performers to join them during the regular season. Justyn Ross? Nope. Cornell Powell? Nada. Nikko Remigio? Keep your seat.

Beyond that, the Chiefs are also not leaning into their fellow wideouts on the active roster any more either. It's not as if Skyy Moore is earning far more chances or that Justin Watson is becoming a volume target. Instead, the Chiefs are bringing in tight ends and running backs as they shift offensive philosophies to include bigger personnel. It's the Noah Grays who are being rewarded here instead.

Moving forward, it makes sense then that this is the last year for many of these names to be taken seriously around Arrowhead. Xavier Worthy is in place and Rashee Rice will return. Maybe Hollywood Brown decides to give it a go with another single-season prove-it deal. But the familiar cast of uninspiring characters who linger down the depth chart and into the practice squad are likely going to wave goodbye.

Just like Veach has gone to work on other posiitons like the offensive line in 2022, I'd expect the Chiefs to completely remake the wide receiving corps going forward.