Insider believes Chiefs are 'ripe' trade partner for five-time Pro Bowl WR

Although the Chiefs have scored the league's most points since 2018 (2,465), could they be interested in adding five-time Pro Bowl WR DeAndre Hopkins?

The wideout has been the subject of trade speculation throughout the offseason. Per Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Jets are "conditionally interested." Nevertheless, ESPN's Jeff Darlington believes Kansas City is a better trade partner.

"This, to me, is more ripe for a team like Kansas City," Darlington said on a Thursday episode of ESPN's "Get Up." "He would want to go out there and resurrect his career with QB Patrick Mahomes."

New York's trade involving Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers isn't official. However, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports recently told ESPN Milwaukee that the Packers want a 2023 second-rounder and a 2024 first-rounder.

A Rodgers deal that involves high draft capital would inhibit New York's ability to trade for Hopkins. According to Breer, Arizona wants a second-rounder and more.

A WR like Hopkins might intrigue Kansas City since JuJu Smith-Schuster signed with New England in free agency and Mecole Hardman signed a one-year deal with the Jets.

Their replacements are Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Skyy Moore, so K.C. should reload its WR room.

Hopkins is 30 years old but represents an upgrade. In nine games last season, he averaged 78.7 receiving yards per game, 10th in the NFL.
The main concern is Hopkins' contract. According to OverTheCap, it has two years and $34.4 million remaining. Per Sportrac, the Chiefs only have $5.4 million in cap space, but Hopkins is reportedly willing to re-negotiate his deal for a contender like Kansas City.

According to OddsChecker, the Chiefs have the second-best odds of landing the star WR. He and Mahomes, a two-time league MVP, would form an elite combination.