The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly have kept in contact with free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason.
One of the league’s top receivers when healthy, Hopkins hit free agency after he was cut by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason. The team attempted to trade him, but it became tough due to the wideout’s massive cap number for the 2023 season.
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“Well, the Chiefs have kept in contact, I’m told, with DeAndre Hopkins, and they have certainly some interest — problem is money,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said. “They don’t have much of it. They’re really tight on the salary cap.”
Fowler explained that the team could open up some cap room by extending defensive tackle Chris Jones’ contract, which may clear the way for Hopkins to sign with the team.
However, he also said it’s possible that a deal may not happen for the star wideout until after training camp.
Hopkins spent part of the 2022 season suspended due to a performance-enhancing drugs violation, but he still can be a No. 1 option for an offense. In Kansas City, he wouldn’t even have to be that since the team has star tight end Travis Kelce.
The Clemson University product had yet another huge season for Arizona in 2022 despite missing the first few games of the campaign due to his suspension. The veteran wide receiver caught 64 of his 96 targets in nine games for the Cardinals. He turned those 64 receptions into 717 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the process.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Hopkins has posted six seasons in which he’s cleared 1,000 receiving yards. He also has 71 career receiving touchdowns.
The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they’ve seen a lot of turnover at the wide receiver position in recent seasons.
Prior to the 2022 campaign, the team traded star Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, and it lost two key players – JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman – in free agency this offseason.
Adding Hopkins to an offense run by Patrick Mahomes would make Kansas City even more dynamic than it already is, and it would help mitigate some of the losses from the last two offseasons.
It will be interesting to see if the two sides can work out a deal before the start of the 2023 regular season.
