DeAndre Hopkins’ reaction to the Chiefs trade should be a warning to the NFL

The DeAndre Hopkins–Kansas City Chiefs trade was exactly what both teams needed. With Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown out for a year and no one else ready to step up, the Leaders needed a wide receiver bad. And with the Titans staring at another losing season, the 32-year-old Hopkins had to leave Tennessee quickly if he wanted a serious shot at a Super Bowl ring.

Hopkins spoke to the media for the first time since the trade, and he was more than happy to join a contending team in the twilight of his career instead of wasting it on one of the worst teams in the world. N.F.L.

If you look at how the Leaders If we made it this season without really having a top wide receiver all year, it should be scary for the other 31 teams. Kansas City is missing its four best offensive players, while Patrick Mahomes has thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns this month. And yet the team still hasn’t lost a game, averaging 27 points across two wins in October so far. And they just added a former All-Pro to the lineup (even if he’s not what he once was).

The rest of the league must be alert. Because while Hopkins has played for the AFC South bottom-feeders the past two seasons, he also had a year in which he had over 1,000 yards receiving last season. He clearly has enough to be a productive receiver in this league, and now he has the best quarterback of the past five seasons in front of him.

“I have to thank (Titans general manager) Ran (Carthon) and his staff for trading me to a contender, primarily because those guys could have traded me anywhere,” Hopkins said Thursday, according to an NFL.com story.

It’s a new beginning for Hopkins, and it could come at the expense of the rest of the NFL.