When the Kansas City Chiefs made the move to add DeAndre Hopkins at midseason to bolster the offense, general manager Brett Veach was hoping it would shore up the team's productivity on the field. The Chiefs were dealing with a number of injury concerns, and the offense was sputtering. NJot only did things work out to that end, but head coach Andy Reid said Hopkins has been a boost in other ways as well.
Hopkins joined the Chiefs in late October in a deal conducted before the NFL's trade deadline as a way to stave off the mounting loss in the team's wide receiver room. Hollywood Brown was lost during the preseason opener, while Rashee Rice was injured in Week 4. JuJu Smith-Schuster's lingering hamstring concern over several games into the season only further weakened the offense.
The Tennessee Titans finally agreed to send Hopkins to Kansas City in exchange for a future day three pick in the NFL Draft. That move brought in the veteran wideout for the final 10 games of the regular season, and he contributed 41 catches, 437 yards, and 4 touchdowns in that span.
Beyond the fact that Hopkins gave Patrick Mahomes another trusted target on offense, Reid says he was also a significant influence on an offense with some younger and less experienced receivers. Rice is still around and learning, while first-round pick Xavier Worthy has shown considerable growth in the season's second half.
The latest Super Bowl LIX media session featured Reid at the podium on Wednesday to answer reporters' questions and he was asked about the Hopkins' trade.
"I knew we were getting a good player," said Reid. "[We] played against him quite a little bit. But I didn’t know the leadership part. He’s been tremendous that way. He hasn’t complained that we’re spreading the ball around or utilizing other guys along with him. He’s willing to share in that way.
"So that whole senior leadership part that he’s brought, I really appreciate it. And he’s a unique route-runner. He knows how to set things up and he’s shared that with some of the guys. I appreciate that part, too."
While Hopkins hasn't been a central figure in the Chiefs' offense down the stretch, he's still a trusted target that opposing teams have to plan around. Together with Brown, who returned from his serious injury, and Worthy, Noah Gray and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs offense has several pass catchers who Mahomes can go to when it counts.
Sounds like a decent investment for a fifth round choice.
