Looking back on the past eight weeks, the Kansas City Chiefs stand as lone soldiers. Putting on an impressive campaign to start the season, the team holds a 7-0 record heading into week nine. Getting to this point was not all sunshine and rainbows; the team has yet to play a stellar game. Injuries are preventing the Chiefs from playing to their full potential. Getting hit hard in the wide receiver room, the Chiefs lack weapons once again.
Proceeding with their plans and trading for Deandre Hopkins is a game-changing move for the franchise. Before getting into the specifics of the contract, let’s look at why this happened.
Last season, Patrick Mahomes played his worst season to date, and many questioned how far Kansas City could go. They struggled offensively, and the defense carried the team to the Super Bowl. A rerun of last year’s offensive issues is the last thing the back-to-back champs want.
Needing an upgrade in receivers, signing free agent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown over the 2024 offseason was big. Achieving 3,644 yards within five seasons, Brown brings new energy to the locker room. Brown lining up next to the second-year receiver Rashee Rice is a match made in heaven for Mahomes. After giving fans hope of a new veteran receiver, things took a turn for the worse during the first preseason game. Brown fell hard on his shoulder after completing the first catch of the match, forcing him to the sidelines. Further evaluations determined Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation. Former star receiver Tyreek Hill endured the same injury back in 2019, sidelining him for four games, according to KMBC News.
The same luck was not on Brown’s side. He announced on social media that surgery is needed to make a full recovery.
“Disappointed, frustrated, and sad was the first wave of emotions once I realized I would need surgery but that only lasted a day or so because Of my Faith in God. Knowing that this to shall pass, no matter the great opportunity I had in front of me. It’s not over and that’s not the path God wanted for me and I’m perfectly fine with that now,” stated Brown on X.
On pace to make a comeback by mid-January, Kansas City leaned on Rice and the first-year rookie Xavier Worthy, though week four stopped this plan. After throwing a pick to the Los Angeles Chargers, Mahomes lowered his shoulder, trying to get the defender down. Missing his target, Mahomes ended up nailing Rice’s knee, leading to Rice getting carted off. It was later announced that the breakout receiver had his PLC surgically repaired. Unlikely to return this season, the wideout is placed on the IR.
With nothing left to lose, the Chiefs turned to Worthy and Juju Smith-Schuster. Finding success in week five, one week after Rice’s injury, Smith-Schuster hauled in seven receptions for eight targets and 130 yards. This success failed to last long, as he left with a hamstring injury during week seven of the 49ers’ matchup. In addition, the team added Skyy Moore to the IR. With no options to go to, hitting the panic button was the only choice left for the front office; this led to Hopkins becoming a Chief. Everyone expected Kansas City to make a move before the deadline; the topic of conversation was who would be signed.
After leaving the Cardinals in the past, the veteran signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Tennessee Titans back in 2023. The team also ate Hopkins’ $2.5 million remaining salary. Before signing with the Titans, rumors spread about the Chiefs signing Hopkins. Ending in the Titans favor, the receiver wanted the money rather than a ring.
Fast forward to today, the Chiefs robbed Tennessee, giving them a 2025 fifth-round pick. That could turn into a fourth if Hopkins plays 60 percent of the snaps. Getting hit with $3.2 million against their cap space, KC will pay Hopkins’ $60,000 per game roster bonus and about $2.6 million in his base pay. To seal the deal, the Titans will pay his $2.5 million base salary. The Chiefs “restructured the contract of OT [offensive tackle] Jawaan Taylor by converting salary into a signing bonus, creating $5.3M in 2024 room,” according to Field Yates on X.
If this fixes the wide receiver problem, stopping the Chiefs from making history and becoming three-peat champs will become harder.