The Kansas City Chiefs could lose some key players after the season ends. Multiple wide receivers are hitting free agency, and the team cannot retain all of them.
The Chiefs traded for DeAndre Hopkins after their wide receiver room needed some upgrades. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown were sidelined with injuries and Hopkins stepped in to provide some help. However, he will be a free agent after the Super Bowl and SportsGrid’s Zack Cook predicted that Hopkins would sign with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“DeAndre Hopkins still offers considerable value to any team, even if he’s no longer playing a huge role,” wrote Cook. “While his role with the Chiefs may not be front and center, that shouldn’t discount what he can still offer an offense in red zone.”
Hopkins is not the player he once was. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. However, he is just one season removed from a 1,000-yard season with the Titans. This season he had 610 yards in 16 regular season games. He scored four touchdowns with the Chiefs after the trade.
The Chargers could use a veteran receiver with steady hands like Hopkins. He could be an asset for Justin Herbert in the red zone and he showed that he can still make the occasional play downfield. The Chiefs would not be losing much as Hopkins was likely viewed as a rental when they acquired him. In the playoffs, he has just one catch and three targets.
With Rice set to return and Xavier Worthy getting better, the Chiefs would likely not be too upset with Hopkins signing with one of their division rivals.