Worrying Trend Has Chiefs Fans Concerned About DeAndre Hopkins Trade

The Kansas City Chiefs made a big move on Wednesday morning, acquiring wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans for a conditional fourth-round pick. Hopkins’ addition immediately bolsters an injured and underperforming Chiefs wide receiver room.

Despite that, this isn’t the first time the Chiefs have made a move in the season to add to their wide receiving room. In 2022, the Chiefs traded a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick to the New York Giants for Kadarius Toney. Then, last season, they traded a seventh-round pick to the Jets to regain Mecole Hardman.

Toney spent a season and a half with the Chiefs, gathering 41 catches on 55 targets for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Although Toney’s stats don’t point to him having a drop problem with the Chiefs, he most certainly did. Toney had some massive drops in important moments that cost the Chiefs games.

Hardman, on the other hand, is still on the team. Since re-joining the Chiefs, Hardman has 19 receptions on 27 targets for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Hardman’s major fault is that he’s more of a gadget guy with speed than an every-down wide receiver.

Hopkins is certainly a better player than Hardman and Toney. However, his career is on the decline. Last season, Hopkins had 75 receptions on 135 targets for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. To begin this season, Hopkins has 15 receptions on 21 targets for 173 yards and one touchdown.

While his production may not suggest that he is on the decline, his play does. According to former NFL backup quarterback Chase Daniel, Hopkins’ route tree has looked limited this season.

Now, Daniel wasn’t saying he doesn’t think Hopkins will be effective with the Chiefs; he was just saying Hopkins doesn’t look like he’s the same player he used to be.

As long as Hopkins has a bigger impact than Toney and Hardman, which he should, the trade will be a win for the Chiefs.

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