3 reasons why DeAndre Hopkins trade to Chiefs will not solve Super Bowl champions' Rashee Rice problem
The Kansas City Chiefs are still undefeated this season, but they're arguably an unconvincing team. Patrick Mahomes has been somewhat erratic while committing turnovers every game, Travis Kelce is playing below his usual level and the group has lost two of its key starters, Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice, to injury.
When Mahomes is your quarterback, anything feels possible; the only thing that’s impossible with him is an offense that doesn't work. Kansas City is winning, but it will need more to compete and fight for a third championship in January. And one name that has been getting attention as a possible trade target is DeAndre Hopkins.
However, this perhaps wouldn't be a great move for Kansas City for a variety of reasons.
3 reasons why the Chiefs shouldn't pursue DeAndre Hopkins
#1. His prime is long, long gone
Well, the first one is pretty obvious. Five years ago, we would look at this addition as something that needed to be investigated by the league, because it would make Kansas City's offense nearly unstoppable. But now? Hopkins would sweat just to be a starter. His team paid a massive amount of money to Calvin Ridley to become their WR1 because they knew his prime was in the past.
At this point, his vertical threat is no longer there, and while he does a great job of finding spaces in underneath zones and making contested catches, he's not as physically dominant anymore. He's not what this team needs to contend now.
#2. He would represent an expensive addition
Let's rewind the clock to July 2023 and look at the contract signed by Hopkins: $26 million for two years. His morale wasn't high in the league then and it's even lower now. There were inquiries from several teams, but a big deal never materialized as expected and he found himself signing with Tennessee.
In 2023, no team that needed a great wide receiver took a serious look at Hopkins due to his price not matching his expectations. He just surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last season and it's unlikely to do it now. So why would the Chiefs spend to acquire a guy they never signed when the need was even bigger?
#3. He's not what the Chiefs need to improve their offense
Until 2022, the Chiefs led the league in explosive passing plays; they have since fallen to the middle of the park. This difference is due to Kelce's drop in production – in the regular season, it should be noted – and the lack of depth in the wide receiver group after Tyreek Hill left the franchise.
They thought they had solved the problem with the signing of Hollywood Brown, but he's now going to likely miss the entire regular season. Rice did a great job as a vertical weapon even though that's not his best attribute. What they need is speed, and this was never Nuk's greatest strength, even in his prime.