NFL Today: Chiefs Again Linked to DeAndre Hopkins
With JuJu Smith-Schuster leaving as a free agent, KC is reportedly targeting DeAndre Hopkins. (NESN)
Free agency is winding down, but NFL offseason drama continues unabated as Lamar Jackson has asked to be traded, the sale of the Commanders is heating up and the Bengals may have landed their new starting tight end with the signing of Irv Smith Jr.
Let’s take a look at what else is happening in the NFL world over the last few days…
Could KC Trade for Star Wide Receiver?
Could the Kansas City Chiefs — having lost both JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman this offseason — be considering swinging a deal for DeAndre Hopkins?
It’s a legitimate question given that the Arizona Cardinals are in rebuild mode, so are likely to trade off some of their more expensive pieces this offseason.
Heading into the 2021 season, Hopkins was a top five Fantasy option at wide receiver. Unfortunately, a variety of injuries have limited him over the last two years, sidelining him for 14 games in total.
In 2021, Hopkins was enjoying a good season from an average yards per catch (and touchdowns) perspective, but the volume was definitely down. Last year, his volume bounced back somewhat (64 receptions, over 700 yards), but he tied his career worst in average per catch and the touchdown total fell off a cliff.
As a result, it’s hard to even consider Hopkins a top 15 WR option anymore, but if he can stay healthy, it’s a bit tantalizing to think what he could do in the Chiefs’ explosive offense.
Of course, KC — who has been linked to him in the past — will have competition in its pursuit of Hopkins. Need a reminder of what Hopkins is capable of? We got your back…
Buffalo Brings Back Jordan Phillips
The Buffalo Bills — currently +900 to win the Super Bowl next season as per Future Odds — will return a key member of their defensive unit thanks to re-signing defensive tackle Jordan Phillips to a one-year deal.
The 30-year-old veteran was Miami’s second round pick out of Oklahoma in 2015 and is now in his second stint in Buffalo. Phillips has had some trouble staying healthy in recent years, so has struggled to duplicate the career-best 9.5 sacks he enjoyed in 2019, the final season of his first run with the Bills.
Still, when healthy, he was playing quite well last season. Assuming Phillips can return healthy from the shoulder surgery that ended his 2022 season prematurely, it’s not unreasonable that he can bounce back closer to his 2019 form.
Who Will Houston Take With Second Pick?
While many experts assume that the Carolina Panthers will take QB Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, there seems to be some debate about what direction the Houston Texans will go with the second pick.
Some expect them to keep the quarterback love going by taking Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, and that certainly makes a ton of sense given that this is their biggest need. Of course, there’s always the possibility that Stroud goes off the board first, and Young falls to the Texans. And despite Young’s less than ideal size, he’s the player they’d almost have to take here given that they failed to go after any of the top quarterbacks in last year’s draft.
Of course, if Houston simply had lost its season finale, this would be moot as it would own the top pick in the draft and be able to select its top choice.
But perhaps the Texans will take a swing at the fences with arguably the highest ceiling QB of the draft in Florida’s Anthony Richardson. A move like that will certainly add some drama to Draft Day.
Opinions are really divided here, but our guess is that Young falls to the Texans at No. 2 and they pounce. And considering we’ve been coveting him for nearly three years now, we’re perfectly okay with this choice.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
English rock band Procol Harum formed in 1967, remained together until 1977 and then got back together in 1991 and stayed active until last year. In 1973, the band released a compilation album, The Best of Procol Harum, featuring “Shine on Brightly,” the title track from their 1968 album.
