Brett Veach knew what he needed to do.
On Wednesday, the general manager found his Kansas City Chiefs in a strong position. They are 6–0, the only unbeaten team in the league, and they lead the AFC by two games. However, their situation could still be seen as shaky.
That changed with the trade for DeAndre Hopkins.
The Chiefs traded a fifth-round pick, which could turn into a fourth-rounder, to the Tennessee Titans for Hopkins, a 32-year-old receiver who had over 1,000 receiving yards in 2023, despite playing with quarterbacks Will Levis and Ryan Tannehill. This year, Hopkins has had a limited role in Tennessee, catching 15 passes on 21 targets for 173 yards and one touchdown.
Even so, Hopkins is a future Hall of Famer with more than 12,000 career receiving yards. He is also just 57 receptions away from reaching 1,000, a milestone achieved by only 14 players in NFL history. For Hopkins, who is a five-time All-Pro, this could be his best chance to win a Super Bowl.
For Kansas City, the trade was about finding the right fit after losing Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice to serious injuries earlier this season. Hopkins will step into the role Rice had before his knee injury in Week 4. Once JuJu Smith-Schuster returns from his hamstring injury, expect Hopkins to be used in various ways, providing options for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
However, this move is not just about one player. It’s also about a larger goal.
The Chiefs are aiming to win a third Super Bowl in a row, which no team has ever done. Kansas City boasts one of the best defenses in the league, ranked 10th in yards allowed per game and fifth in points allowed. With defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in charge, they consistently keep their opponents close.
Although the Chiefs have managed to win their first six games against strong teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers, things haven’t been perfect. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has had a tough start, throwing six touchdown passes but also eight interceptions. The top receiver on the team is Rashee Rice, who hasn’t made a catch since Week 3.
In short, Kansas City’s offense was struggling. But that has changed now.
With this trade, the Chiefs are ready for what’s ahead. This is a significant move for them. There might be more smaller trades in the future, but general manager Brett Veach is fully committed.
After losing Brown and Rice, Kansas City was managing offensively with the strong running of Kareem Hunt, while Isiah Pacheco is still about a month away from returning due to a leg injury from Week 2.
When Pacheco comes back, coach Andy Reid will have a powerful two-back system to utilize, which should be beneficial as the colder months approach in January.
With Hopkins on the team, the Chiefs now have a strong trio made up of him, Travis Kelce, and speedy rookie Xavier Worthy. When JuJu Smith-Schuster returns, he will provide another reliable veteran option. There’s also backup tight end Noah Gray, who has stepped up with 14 catches on 15 targets for 185 yards.
This trade does one more important thing: it removes any excuses for the offense.
Kansas City’s offense has been somewhat stuck for the past year and a half, struggling without a top receiver. In 2023, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney were meant to fill that gap, but it didn’t work out. This season, Brown and Rice were making a real impact until they got injured.
After seven weeks, the Chiefs are ranked 10th in yards per game and 13th in points. Mahomes has not been at his best, and the receivers have had a hard time getting open. Now, with Hopkins, those problems should start to improve.
If they don’t improve, serious questions will need to be asked about why the team can’t find the rhythm that has been a key part of its success during Mahomes’s time.
Looking at the bigger picture, Kansas City is making efforts to chase a historic championship. After the Buffalo Bills traded for Amari Cooper last week, Veach decided to respond by bringing in a star wide receiver of his own. The stakes are high, and the Chiefs opted to take action rather than hold back.
No matter how the season ends, no one can claim that Kansas City isn’t making a strong push this year, given all that’s at stake.
Veach understood what needed to happen. Now, the Chiefs must deliver on their potential with a roster that is stronger than it was just a day ago.
