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Oh, you thought the big-name receiver deals were done? Today, we’re looking at nine that should happen, including the latest on DeAndre Hopkins:
What Dianna’s Hearing: Chiefs move in on Hopkins
It could be a done deal by the time you read this: According to league sources, the Chiefs have spent this morning working to acquire five-time Pro Bowl WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans. Tennessee would receive a conditional draft pick in exchange for the 32-year-old wideout — a fifth-rounder that could become a fourth.
The Chiefs have understandably been looking to upgrade their passing attack. Patrick Mahomes is averaging a career-low 231.5 passing yards per game and has six touchdowns to eight interceptions, as injuries have sidelined wide receivers Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown. In Sunday’s 28-12 win over the 49ers, Kansas City wide receivers combined for just five receptions on 12 targets.
Hopkins would be looking to shake off a slow start to his season. In six games, he has 15 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown. After suffering a sprained knee during the preseason, Hopkins’ snap count was limited early; he caught just one pass for minus-2 yards in Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Chiefs are expecting Hopkins to land later this afternoon, and they are preparing for him to be in the lineup against the Raiders on Sunday. More here.
Jacob has more on the receiver deals below, including potential Cooper Kupp destinations after The Athletic broke news of the Rams receiver’s availability.
Back to you, Jacob.
Trade Proposals: Eight more WR moves that should happen
We are less than two weeks out from the NFL trade deadline. By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 5th, any deal that could happen, will happen. Below are eight receiver trades that should (not the same as will) happen, ranked from most to least realistic.
Chargers acquire Mike Williams from the Jets, sending a 2025 fifth-round pick for the receiver and a sixth-round pick. Would a reunion with Williams make sense? As beat reporter Daniel Popper put it, from a roster-fit perspective, it’s a resounding yes. And that was before Monday night’s loss to the Cardinals, when WR Jalen Reagor fumbled away a potential score and LA finished with seven drops. Their struggling, injury-plagued group could use Williams. Badly.
49ers acquire Kendrick Bourne, sending the Patriots a 2025 sixth-round pick. This is one of Chad Graff’s five moves New England could make to stockpile draft picks amid a losing season. Chad notes, “The 49ers have expressed interest in Bourne multiple times,” and a reunion in San Francisco is timely after Brandon Aiyuk’s injury.
Buccaneers add Cooper Kupp, sending the Rams a 2025 second-round pick. Three reasons why this makes sense: (1) Chris Godwin is out for the year and a free agent next offseason, (2) Kupp fills the Godwin role, a position he’s familiar with, as OC Liam Coen — whom he worked with for years in L.A.— crafted it based on Kupp and (3) the Buccaneers could either retain Kupp past this season or cut him to save $29.7 million.
Highest % of routes that are horizontally-breaking or underneath
[WRs, per @FantasyPtsData]1. Chris Godwin (67.3%)
2. Cooper Kupp (66.1%)
3. Josh Downs (65.9%)
4. Rashee Rice (64.5%)
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown (63.8%)
….
7. Jalen McMillan (59.0%) 👀
8. JuJu Smith-Schuster (58.9%)— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) October 22, 2024
My only hesitation is Buccaneers GM Jason Licht, who drafts well and rarely trades picks, especially after Greg Auman of FOX Sports reported that HC Todd Bowles said, “We feel comfortable with the guys in the building,” when asked about the receiver position. Signing FA Michael Thomas is a cheaper solution that noted film-watcher Matt Waldman mentioned.
If I’m the Buccaneers and want a shot to win this division, I bring in Michael Thomas to play the Godwin role and hope Evans heals in time to still make a run for the playoffs
Perhaps trade for Mike Williams.
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 22, 2024
Steelers add Cooper Kupp, sending the Rams a 2025 second-round pick. Yes, if Kupp doesn’t head to Tampa, Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan should make the call. He has a history of trading with the Rams (2023 deals for Kevin Dotson and Allen Robinson) and reportedly tried to send a similar package for Aiyuk this offseason. Kupp would give them the perfect complement to George Pickens in OC Arthur Smith’s play-action-heavy offense.
Patriots acquire Diontae Johnson, sending the Panthers a 2025 third round pick. The Panthers have zero reason to accept anything less, as they’ll receive a third-round compensatory pick if Johnson signs a decent contract elsewhere in 2025. The Patriots have an extra third and $35 million in cap space this year and $137 million next season (tops in the league), so they may be willing to extend Johnson immediately. Drake Maye deserves at least one WR who can separate:
Commanders add John Metchie, sending the Texans a 2025 sixth-round pick. This saves the 24-year-old from irrelevancy in Houston’s deep receiver room, where he’s seen has one target this year. And at this price, it makes sense for Washington to take a flier on a former second-round pick.
Saints acquire Darius Slayton, sending the Giants a 2025 conditional fifth-round pick and receiving a sixth. Slayton’s 12.8 air yards per target since 2020 are evidence of his the field-stretching ability — sorely needed in New Orleans with Rashid Shaheed (14.7 air yards per target) out for the season. The perennially underrated 27-year-old is also a free agent in 2025, which would lower the cost for GM Mickey Loomis.
Vikings add Adam Thielen, sending the Panthers a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick. The 34-year-old — who is expected to practice this week — would return to his native Minnesota and to a franchise he didn’t intend to leave. Back in purple and gold, he can man the slot position for Kevin O’Connell’s offense. But this feels like the Panthers doing the Vikings (and my fantasy team) a favor.
For more, you can read The Athletic’s Mike Jones and Jeff Howe’s trade deadline wish list, with Mike proposing a Haason Reddick move to the Lions. 👀
Quick Outs: Appreciating Maye and Bijan
If you haven’t been reading Derrik Klassen’s Quick Outs column, you’re missing out on an NFL-worthy education. Two notes from this morning’s article stood out, as both players are impressing despite minimal support:
- Patriots QB Drake Maye “shows great timing and knows when to let plays die, which is the most surprising part of all of this,” per Derek. “I thought Maye would walk into the league with a little more Jordan Love to his game, but he’s played well within himself. He understands when to throw the ball away and doesn’t waste time in muddied pockets or waiting on receivers to get open.”
- As for Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, Derrick notes that Robinson was successful on 57.1 percent of his runs (only two other RBs hit 50-plus percent) despite the Falcons allowing just 0.72 yards before contract, the fifth-worst mark in Week 7.
Around the NFL
Browns QB Jameis Winston will start in Week 8 against the Ravens. He finished Week 7 completing 5-of-11 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, and is an obvious upgrade over Deshaun Watson.
Rams WR Puka Nacua saw his 21-day practice window open. It may take the full 21 days for Nacua to return, as OC Mike LeFleur noted that Nacua has not played any football at full speed in a long time.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara agreed to a two-year, $24.5 million extension. The 29-year-old will remain in New Orleans through 2026.
Yesterday’s most-clicked: Jake Ciely’s Week 8 Waivers, though you’ll probably want to check his Week 8 Fantasy Rankings today.
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(Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
