The Kansas City Chiefs have assembled one of the deepest receiving corps in the league, but none of the options have established themselves as a true go-to option at this point in their careers.
DeAndre Hopkins has been a WR1 in the NFL for practically a decade, and even though he will be 31 years old before the season, he would be an instant upgrade in the Chiefs’ offense. The recently released veteran wideout has been linked to K.C. throughout the offseason and could prove to be an option now that he’s available.
In nine games last season, Hopkins caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns. Hopkins was on a 17-game pace of 121 catches for 1,354 yards. Patrick Mahomes did not have one receiver, outside of star tight end Travis Kelce, eclipse 1,000 yards last season. Hopkins has been a 1,000-yard receiver in six of 10 seasons, including two seasons over 1,500 yards. Paring Mahomes with Hopkins would give the Chiefs another established weapon outside of Kelce that can exploit defenses.
Although signing Hopkins would mean immediate impact and production, the young receivers on the roster would be taking a back seat to the five-time All-Pro selection.
Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore are both entering an important year in their development. Kansas City’s brass reportedly views Toney as a WR1, but injuries have hindered his ability to establish himself on the field. When Toney has been on the field in his career, he has shown flashes of that caliber of talent. Last season, Toney was utilized more as a gadget receiver, but his role is expected to expand, as the Chiefs believe he can be a playmaker down the field.
Moore’s rookie season was underwhelming. In 16 games, the 22-year-old receiver corralled 22 catches for 250 yards and zero touchdowns. He did catch a touchdown in the Super Bowl against the Eagles, going into the offseason with a strong finish. He’s since spent his offseason in Texas, working with Mahomes in hopes of making a larger impact in 2023.
Then there is rookie WR Rashee Rice, who says he models his game after DeAndre Hopkins. Rice, 23, is coming off a senior year at SMU where he collected 96 catches for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns. Entering the NFL with four years of college experience may allow Rice to step in with less of a learning curve and contribute earlier than a conventional rookie wideout. At the same time, having another player in front of Rice on the depth chart might lessen his impact in Year 1. In the long term, learning directly from a player like Hopkins could prove valuable.
A move to sign Hopkins would tie up cap space and cash, but it could also keep him out of the hands of AFC conference rivals. With Mahomes being paid north of $40 million per season, drafting and developing pass-catching options will allow the Chiefs to have elongated success. Hopkins would give the Chiefs immediate production, but the young wideouts would presumably take a hit in their development with an opportunity deficit.
Mahomes has proven that he can win without a true WR1. And who knows, one of Toney or Rice could develop into a top option in this offense and be had at a much lower price. It’s a risk that the team might be willing to take fresh off of a win in Super Bowl LVII.
