DeAndre Hopkins is officially a member of the Chiefs, going from an afterthought in Tennessee to the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL.
It's always nice to upgrade. For Hopkins, it's a bit of a relief that his move out of Nashville didn't send him to an even worse place.
"I've got to thank (Titans general manager) Ran (Carthon) and his staff for trading me to a contender, first of all, because those guys could've traded me anywhere," Hopkins said Thursday.
Instead of heading to a football wasteland as an asset dump, Hopkins joins the back-to-back Super Bowl champions who happen to feature one of the top quarterbacks on the planet in Patrick Mahomes. Hopkins professed his admiration for Mahomes on Thursday, adding he's remained in touch with the superstar for the duration of Mahomes' career.
"It means a lot," he continued when speaking of playing for a contender. "It takes your game to a different level. It take your focus, your drive knowing that you're playing for something. It takes your game to a different level. I haven't played meaningful football in a couple years since we probably started 8-0 in Arizona. So it takes your game to a different level."
Hopkins and the Chiefs might just be exactly what each needed. Mahomes has been forced to operate an offense lacking weapons at receiver due to injuries, which have eliminated Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice from the equation this season, leaving only rookie Xavier Worthy, veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster and a cast of lower-level receivers available. Amid these circumstances, finding Travis Kelce -- Kansas City's best pass-catching weapon outside of Worthy's big-play potential -- is becoming more difficult, which has meant more targets for tight end Noah Gray, but a lower-ceiling offense.
Hopkins, meanwhile, hasn't played for a high-caliber quarterback since he last ran routes for Kyler Murray in Arizona in 2022. That came amid an oft-injured period for Hopkins, who appeared in 19 of a possible 34 games in his final two seasons with the Cardinals, leading to his departure and eventual signing with the Titans in 2023. He was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2023, but flew under the radar while playing for the worst team in the AFC South.
Now, the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro is back in the spotlight with the most prominent -- and successful -- franchise in the NFL over the last five years. If ever there were a time to hop onboard a wagon in pursuit of postseason glory, it's now.
"Very important," Hopkins said of the allure of participating in a playoff run. "I think I've done a lot, all the accolades that I can accomplish as far as personal. So I think just playing meaningful football in January is what's left on the list."
Coach Andy Reid is eager to welcome the addition of a three-time first-team All-Pro to his lineup, especially after Smith-Schuster suffered a hamstring injury, adding to the Chiefs' litany of health issues at the position.
In fact, we might see Hopkins in red and white as soon as Sunday when the Chiefs face the struggling Raiders.
"Well, it could be this weekend. We'll how he [picks it up]," Reid said. "We've got to get him on the practice field. Why wait, right? If he can, without putting him in a bad position…"
Hopkins agrees with his new coach.
"I've been in the NFL for 12 years," Hopkins said. "I know football, so hopefully I can go out there and make some plays wherever I fit in, wherever I'm needed."
He's definitely needed in Kansas City. All that's left is for Hopkins to start running routes.
