DeAndre Hopkins: Patrick Mahomes' New Toy for the Chiefs

The reigning champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, have bolstered their offense by signing five-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The Tennessee Titans will cover part of their former player's salary in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the upcoming Draft.

Hopkins, now 32, started his career with the Houston Texans after being selected in the first round of the 2013 Draft. He’s now joining a receiver room that’s been hit hard by injuries. The Chiefs desperately needed help with their top wideouts sidelined. Rashee Rice is out for the season after a Week 4 knee injury, and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown hasn’t played at all this year due to a preseason shoulder injury. Last week, JuJu Smith-Schuster injured his hamstring and won’t be able to suit up against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8.

And let's not forget that star running back Isiah Pacheco is out for the season with a broken fibula. Despite all these offensive setbacks, Andy Reid’s squad has managed to remain the last undefeated team in the league, standing tall among the 32 NFL teams.

The Chiefs currently lead the AFC West with a flawless 6-0 record and are still the favorites to reach the Super Bowl and possibly win a historic three-peat—something no team has ever accomplished in NFL history. That’s why DeAndre Hopkins’ arrival is so crucial. He’s a seasoned receiver who played seven seasons with the Texans, three with the Arizona Cardinals, and had been with the Titans until now.

For the Titans, letting go of their best receiver marks the beginning of a rebuild after a rough 1-5 start to the season. Before finalizing the Hopkins deal, reports from The Athletic and journalist Dianna Russini suggested that the Chiefs initially tried to land Cooper Kupp from the Los Angeles Rams.