NFL Rumors: Chiefs Are Still In Touch With Free Agent DeAndre Hopkins
DeAndre Hopkins, a former Pro Bowler who is now 31 years old, said on Thursday that he still has at least another half-decade of football left in him. Despite rumours linking the wide receiver to the Patriots or Titans, ESPN reports that the Chiefs are still in contact with the free agency and remain a possibility.
NFL Rumors: Chiefs Are Still In Touch With Free Agent DeAndre Hopkins In Hopes Of Trading Him
The 32 NFL teams’ training camps are almost around the horizon, and the free agency of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowler, continues to hang over a select few teams. One of them is the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly in light of the uncertainties surrounding wideout room for head coach Andy Reid in 2023.
Prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, the Chiefs purportedly made contact with the Arizona Cardinals to propose a deal that, had negotiations gone far enough, might have brought Hopkins to Kansas City.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥:
The latest from insider information on Deandre Hopkins free agencyIf Bills, Chiefs or Browns offered money close to the Titans or Patriots, he would be signed today. He wants a combo of money + a chance to win.
Hopkins isn't "thrilled" to have Mac Jones or… pic.twitter.com/WiUSXm7HCk
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) July 6, 2023
Jeremy Fowler recently stated that “The Chiefs have maintained contact and they have, undoubtedly, some interest.”
Since Hopkins first became available through trade early this offseason, the problem has been money. Hopkins is allegedly looking for a deal comparable to the $15 million one-year contract that Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Ravens. Kansas City currently has the least salary cap space in the NFL with just over $400,000 available.
Here are @LanceTHESPOKEN’s pre-training camp Chiefs WR room predictions:
WR1 – Deandre Hopkins
WR2 – Kadarius Toney
WR3 – Skyy Moore
WR4 – MVS
WR5 – Justin Watson
WR6 – Rashee Rice pic.twitter.com/PrPMSyWDg6— 🗣𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙿𝙾𝙺𝙴𝙽‼️𝙿𝚘𝚍𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝🗣 (@THESPOKENpod) July 6, 2023
According to Fowler, the Chiefs might extend star defensive lineman Chris Jones to free up cash to pursue Hopkins “more aggressively,” but that might not happen until late in the summer.
The following is what veteran NFL writer and insider Jeremy Fowler had to say when questioned directly about the Chiefs and Hopkins:
A new report says that the #Chiefs are “on the periphery” in pursuits of WR DeAndre Hopkins in free agency. https://t.co/237W6WZppb
— Chiefs Wire (@TheChiefsWire) July 6, 2023
“Well the Chiefs have kept in contact, I’m told, with DeAndre Hopkins’ camp. They have, certainly, some interest. The problem is money. They don’t have much of it. They’re really tight on the salary cap. Now if they extend defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has a $28 million cap hit, that would free up some money where they could go after Hopkins a little more aggressively. But that deal might not happen until closer to training camp or even after. So I would consider the Chiefs on the periphery right now with the Titans and Patriots, who hosted Hopkins in for a visit a couple of weeks ago. Still firmly in the mix.”
DeAndre Hopkins Update: #Patriots are working hard to sign him#Titans are keeping engaged #Chiefs are the wild card pic.twitter.com/utCWOQf0aC
— NFL RUMORS (@NFLREPORTCARD) July 1, 2023
The Patriots and Titans are now thought to be the front-runners to sign the former Texans and Cardinals star.
Deandre Hopkins is going to The CHIEFS?! #deandrehopkins #nfl #kylermurray #football #arizonacardinals #cardinals #larryfitzgerald #azcardinals #deshaunwatson #arizona #nflnews #jjwatt #chandlerjones #houstontexans #patrickmahomes #cardinalsfootball #sports #texans #tombrady… pic.twitter.com/qyiiwb2rBo
— TheAVShow (@TheAVShowDaily) July 6, 2023
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