Despite being undefeated at 6-0, the Kansas City Chiefs have made a move to strengthen their roster by trading for a wide receiver ahead of the NFL trade deadline, following a trend set by other teams in the AFC.

On Wednesday, the Chiefs secured the signing of DeAndre Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, from the Tennessee Titans. This trade follows the recent acquisitions of Davante Adams by the New York Jets and Amari Cooper by the Buffalo Bills, as these teams aim to improve their struggling passing games.

Hopkins has had a rough season so far, with only 15 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown, primarily due to a knee injury from the preseason and a lack of support from the Titans’ passing game. In Kansas City, he is expected to boost an offense that struggled with just 145 passing yards in their latest win against the San Francisco 49ers as injuries piled up in their receiving group.

Let’s take a look at the implications of this trade, including who benefits and who suffers, along with our evaluations for both teams involved.

Winners

Patrick Mahomes

The two-time MVP has remained composed despite struggles among his receiving options, showing confidence in his current players. This acquisition may provide the essential boost in talent Kansas City needed after losing rookie Xavier Worthy and veteran Justin Watson, particularly with JuJu Smith-Schuster sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Although it will take time for Mahomes to build chemistry with Hopkins, this addition gives him a reliable target, which should ease the pressure on him as he ranks among the league leaders in interceptions.

Travis Kelce

While Kelce has faced tight coverage this season, his recent low performance against the 49ers underscored the need for a change. Mahomes will keep looking for his veteran tight end; however, with Hopkins now in the mix, Kelce could see better opportunities moving forward.

DeAndre Hopkins

This trade can be seen as a well-deserved reward for Hopkins’ patience during a challenging season. Now, at 32, he joins an undefeated team with a dynamic quarterback, securing a prime position for the current season. Additionally, with his contract set to expire in the spring, this is an opportunity to showcase his abilities in a much more favorable environment compared to Tennessee.

Losers

Will Levis and Mason Rudolph

This trade wouldn’t have occurred if the Titans had confidence in Levis as a long-term quarterback. His inconsistent playing style led Tennessee to trade away one of their top receivers to shift focus towards building draft capital for the future. With Levis recovering from a shoulder injury and Rudolph struggling as a fill-in starter, both players are at a disadvantage following this trade.

Wide Receivers on the Trade Block

With Kansas City making a significant move by securing Hopkins, it dampens the hopes of other receivers on struggling teams wishing to join the Chiefs. The once-available options, including Cooper Kupp, Diontae Johnson, Darius Slayton, and Christian Kirk, may have to rethink their outlooks after this deal.

JuJu Smith-Schuster

He was performing admirably after Rice’s injury but his own hamstring setback may have inadvertently facilitated this trade. Though Mahomes will continue to rely on him, it’s clear that Hopkins’ addition significantly limits the role Smith-Schuster was beginning to establish.

AFC Contenders

With the Chiefs now solidifying their receiving corps, other AFC teams with two or more losses face an uphill battle to dethrone Kansas City. As they prepare for games against teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills, the path to preventing another championship game appearance at Arrowhead Stadium has become even more challenging.

DeAndre Hopkins Trade Assessments

Chiefs: A-

This trade appeared to be the logical move that was almost too good to be true. Initially, it seemed unlikely as there were indications the Titans wanted to retain their second-best receiver. However, general manager Brett Veach successfully orchestrated a trade for a playmaker for the third straight year before the deadline.

There’s a strong possibility that Hopkins’ influence could surpass that of Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman. Despite the Chiefs’ efforts to move forward, it became apparent that they needed another offensive option after Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending knee injury, adding to the challenges faced by a receiving group that’s already missing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (shoulder) until at least the playoffs. Hopkins doesn’t have to regain the electrifying form he had at the start of his career for this partnership to succeed. By simply continuing to dominate over defensive backs when catching the ball and capitalizing on a high number of opportunities with short and intermediate routes, he can significantly aid the Chiefs as they adapt their offensive strategy to focus on efficiency rather than big plays.

Titans: B

General manager Ran Carthon deserves recognition for understanding the broader perspective and not rushing forward with acquiring Hopkins. It made sense that a receiver skilled at contested catches would nicely complement Calvin Ridley, who excels at gaining separation, and provide crucial support to the inconsistent second-year quarterback, Levis. However, the situation hasn’t worked out for the struggling 1-5 Titans. With Tennessee already having lost a third-round draft pick in 2025 from the L’Jarius Sneed trade— which hasn’t yielded favorable outcomes so far— it’s essential to gather more draft picks for a team that is likely heading for another major change in its offensive lineup during the offseason.