The Kansas City Chiefs have acquired DeAndre Hopkins in a blockbuster trade to bolster their injury-hit receiving options as they chase a historic third successive Super Bowl victory.
Hopkins heads to Arrowhead from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a fifth-round pick that can become a fourth-round pick, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday.
The deal arrives weeks after the Chiefs lost star receiver Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury, having already seen offseason acquisition Hollywood Brown ruled out for the year with a shoulder issue.
JuJu Smith-Schuster has meanwhile been ruled out of Sunday’s clash with the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering a hamstring injury in last weekend’s 28-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Hopkins arrives as much-needed help for a Chiefs attack that has primarily leaned on its running game and defense across its perfect 6-0 start to the season.
The 12-year veteran signed a two-year deal with the Titans in July 2023, before leading the team with 75 catches for 1,057 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games. He has 15 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown so far this season.
Hopkins is a five-time Pro Bowl selection with 943 career receptions for 12,528 yards and 79 touchdowns in 168 games across his time with the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals and Titans.
He has seven 1,000-yard campaigns since being drafted with the 27th overall pick out of Clemson in 2013, his career-year coming in 2018 when he made 115 catches for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The 32-year-old becomes the latest marquee veteran receiver on the move ahead of November’s trade deadline after the New York Jets acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders and the Buffalo Bills added former Cleveland Browns wideout Amari Cooper.
Week Eight begins Thursday night when the Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Rams from 1.15am in the early hours of Friday, live on Sky Sports NFL; Also stream with NOW.
