The Tennessee Titans made some news on Wednesday by trading fan-favorite WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now that the dust has settled and the official details of the deal have been released, it is easier to make a snap judgment and grade the transaction.
Full details on the DeAndre Hopkins trade:
— #Chiefs get DeAndre Hopkins.
— #Titans get a fifth-round pick that elevates to a fourth rounder if KC makes the Super Bowl and Hopkins plays 60% of the snaps.
— Tennessee eats $2.5M in salary. https://t.co/hor9cd6obh— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2024
In the deal, the Titans sent Hopkins to the Chiefs in exchange for a conditional fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft. The selection can move up to the fourth round if the Chiefs make the Super Bowl and Hopkins plays 60 percent of the snaps. The Titans also paid Hopkins $2.5 million in salary to make the deal happen.
Titans grade: B
While this move will not please fans, it is a prudent business deal for general manager Ran Carthon, who sees his team struggling at 1-5. Gaining draft capital for an aging veteran at the end of his contract is a win.
However, between eating the $2.5 million and sacrificing one of the better locker room leaders in place for a young, struggling offense does pose some questions about the direction of the franchise moving into the second half of 2024.
For the defending Super Bowl champs, this is a home run. Add a veteran receiver of Hopkins’ caliber for a mid-round pick and having the Titans help out financially, who wouldn’t want that? Plus, it helps to fill a void in their decimated receiving corps. It is a win-win from their perspective.
Due to his age and contract status, trading Hopkins was never going to net the Titans a major haul, but there were likely multiple suitors out there that could have driven up the price. With teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Diego Chargers, all likely buyers heading into the trade deadline, a more lucrative deal could have been made. This leads one to wonder if Hopkins himself played a role in his final destination and the eventual compensation.
No matter what, this move leaves the Titans with a new hole in their struggling offense and could be a signal that they are about to head into full rebuild mode. If that is the case, one has to wonder what moves are to follow and how this impacts the evaluation of quarterback Will Levis. Stay tuned to find out.
The Titans will return to action without Hopkins on Sunday when the Titans face the Detroit Lions in Week 8 action.
