Why Chiefs see Hopkins as better fit than Adams, Cooper

When trade communication picked up after Patrick Mahomes accidentally collided with Rashee Rice on Sept. 29, Kansas City held two third-round selections in the 2025 draft. And when Davante Adams and Amari Cooper changed teams last week, the Chiefs still had two third-round picks. Now, after Kansas City lost JuJu Smith-Schuster in last week’s win at San Francisco, the team is reportedly finalizing a trade to acquire three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from Tennessee. And, yes, the Chiefs still have two third-round selections.

Translation: Kansas City believes Hopkins is a better fit with Mahomes because the Chiefs weren’t willing to give up a third-rounder to get Adams or Cooper. Last week, both the Jets and Bills paid third-round choices to get their newest receivers. On Tuesday, the Chiefs reportedly gave up only a conditional fifth-rounder that could become a fourth.

Former Pro Bowl receiver and Super Bowl champion Greg Jennings said Tuesday morning on FS1’s Breakfast Ball that he doesn’t see Hopkins solving all the Chiefs’ problems, noting Mahomes needs to improve, but does see Hopkins providing a significant upgrade.

“I think we’re not taking into account the way Andy Reid uses these guys,” said Jennings, who caught passes from both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. “I don’t believe it’s about the big name. I think that they wanted to get a guy who’s proven, that can get it done and that still has a little bit left. You talk about Amari Cooper going to the Buffalo Bills and obviously Davante Adams. We still believe that they have something left in them. When you give either one of those guys Patrick Mahomes, then we believe they have even more. That’s what they’re doing with DeAndre Hopkins.”

What they’re doing with Hopkins is getting him ready for the Raiders (2-5) on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). Per insider James Palmer, Kansas City’s plan is to fast-track Hopkins, knowing by week’s end how much help he can immediately provide. Ironically, the last team to beat the Chiefs was Las Vegas, a Christmas Day upset at Arrowhead Stadium. Zamir White rushed for 145 yards and the Raiders posted a pair of first-half defensive touchdowns in a 20-14 victory.

Kansas City has won 12 straight games since that loss and can match the longest winning streak in franchise history with a win at Las Vegas on Sunday. Their record 13-game stretch from 2019-20 also ended at the hands of the Raiders.

And the Chiefs love Allegiant Stadium, where they’re 5-0 with a Super Bowl win since the facility opened in 2020. In fact, per Josh Dubow, Reid and Mahomes have won more games (five) at the stadium than any coach-quarterback combination, more than the four victories earned by three Raiders tandems: Antonio Pierce and Aidan O’Connell, Josh McDaniels and Derek Carr, and Jon Gruden and Carr. Hopkins might help the Chiefs open a two-game lead on those Raiders combinations this week.

“You put him in positions where it’s favorable,” Jennings said, “formation variation, you’re allowing him to do the things that he’s always done really well. You talk about his catch radius. It’s a win. It does not solve their issues but it will definitely improve who they are offensively.”

Among active NFL players, Hopkins ranks first in receptions (943), second in receiving yards (12,528) and fourth in touchdown catches (79).