KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs announced their trade for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Thursday, sending the Tennessee Titans a conditional fifth-round draft pick for a three-time All-Pro that they hope can help a position group devastated by injuries.
The Chiefs made space for Hopkins by placing wide receiver Skyy Moore, who did not appear on the injury report for Sunday's game in Las Vegas following Wednesday's practice, on injured reserve with what it called a “core muscle injury.”
Kansas City was desperate for help at wide receiver after Marquise Brown had shoulder surgery before the season, Rashee Rice underwent season-ending knee surgery, and JuJu Smith-Schuster hurt his hamstring in last week's win over the 49ers.
The Titans will get a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft for Hopkins, who has been dealing with a knee injury for much of the season. It could become a fourth-rounder if he plays 60% of snaps with the Chiefs and they make the Super Bowl.
Tennessee also agreed to pay $2.5 million of his remaining salary, an important point for the salary cap-strapped Chiefs.
Hopkins is the third high-profile wide receiver to be traded in just over a week.
Davante Adams was the first to move last Tuesday, going from the Raiders to the Jets for a conditional third-round draft pick next year and reuniting with Aaron Rodgers, his old quarterback in Green Bay. Hours later, the Bills acquired Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick next year from the Browns for a third-round pick along with a seventh-rounder in 2026.
The 32-year-old Hopkins only had 15 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown in his second season in Tennessee. But he gives the Chiefs a proven star — 943 catches for 12,528 yards and 79 TDs in a career spent mostly in Arizona and Houston — along with an accomplished red zone target for a team that has struggled to score touchdowns inside the opposing 20-yard line.
This is the third straight season the Chiefs have traded for wide receiver help. They acquired Kadarius Toney from the Giants two years ago, though he was cut before this season, and Mecole Hardman from the Jets last season.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
