Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DT Josh Tupou
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez, G Josh Sills
- Released: OT Jack Wilson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to practice squad: LB Tony Fields II
OCTOBER 28: Head coach Sean McVay confirmed on Monday White and his agent have received permission to seek out a trade. The Rams are still willing to retain him, but as a pending free agent it would be understandable if White preferred a fresh start and the opportunity to once again operate as a starter.
OCTOBER 26: Tre’Davious White was a key member of the Rams’ secondary early in the year, but he has been a healthy scratch for each of the past three games. The veteran corner could soon be on the move as a result. 
[RELATED: Rams Not Expecting To Trade Cooper Kupp]
White and the Rams are discussing their future, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. A trade is one potential outcome in this instance, although the team is also open to retaining him. As Los Angeles knows (like all other teams), attrition throughout the season could lead to injuries elsewhere on the CB depth chart. That could thrust White back into the first-team role he held for the first four weeks of the year.
As Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes, the Rams indicated upon signing White he would not be tasked with a heavy workload right away, although that is what wound up happening. The former Bills All-Pro handled a 98% defensive snap share during Weeks 1-4 before falling out of the gameday lineup altogether. White surrendered four touchdowns and a 138.4 passer rating in coverage, something which has no doubt played a role in his lack of usage over the past three contests.
Those struggles in coverage could hinder White’s trade value, although the 29-year-old is a pending free agent. He inked a one-year pact on the open market with a base value of $4.25MM. Incentives are also in place with that pact, though, and logging a 60% snap share with the Rams would trigger additional compensation. Any acquiring team would take on the prorated remainder of a $1.5MM base salary, something which would be a feasible task for contenders.
White was among the league’s top corners during the first five years of his Buffalo tenure. Injuries have stalled his career, however, and between 2022 and ’23 he played only 10 games. The LSU product managed to recover from the Achilles tear he suffered last October in time for the start of the season, although his poor coverage showing will lead to questions about his ability to return to his pre-injury form.
The Rams have Darious Williams back after his IR stint, along with Cobie Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon in place at the cornerback spot. Missed time from any member of that trio could lead White back into the lineup, but if a strong enough trade market emerges it will be interesting to see if the team prefers to move on.
With the trade deadline nearing, more player movement can be expected during the coming days. Of course, a key factor in any deals will be the financial situation for contenders aiming to bolster their rosters for the second half of the campaign.
Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is an updated look at each teams’ cap space:
- San Francisco 49ers: $54.13MM
- Cleveland Browns: $45.16MM
- New England Patriots: $36.61MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $34.59MM
- Detroit Lions: $27.53MM
- Washington Commanders: $23.44MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $20.75MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $19.44MM
- Tennessee Titans: $18.26MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $17.12MM
- Green Bay Packers: $13.96MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $11.11MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $10.36MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $9.48MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $8.98MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $8.93MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $8.19MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $8.16MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $7.83MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $7.72MM
- Chicago Bears: $6.14MM
- Houston Texans: $6.01MM
- New York Jets: $5.1MM
- Miami Dolphins: $5.02MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $4.36MM
- Buffalo Bills: $2.37MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $2.35MM
- New Orleans Saints: $2.15MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $1.91MM
- Denver Broncos: $1.77MM
- New York Giants: $1.51MM
- Carolina Panthers: $1.12MM
Just like last year, the 49ers find themselves with considerable cap space to work with. The team has several reasons to roll over as many funds as possible into the offseason, however, with Brock Purdy eligible for an extension and the likes of Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga on track for free agency. Major investments including a commitment beyond 2024 would thus come as a surprise. 
San Francisco is among the teams to watch regarding an addition, and major injuries on both sides of the ball could lead to a stop-gap solution being targeted. The 49ers may also be open to moving away players before the deadline, though, with Ward being named as potential candidate to be dealt. Sitting at 3-4, the team’s bid to return to the Super Bowl has not gone as planned to date, but a notable midseason addition could certainly change things.
Having lost Aidan Hutchinson until at least the Super Bowl, the Lions have an obvious need along the edge. Replacing his production with any one addition will not be feasible, but bringing in at least a rotational option would not come as a surprise. Indeed, Detroit has been involved in the edge market with respect to showing interest in some of the veterans who could be on the move.
That list no longer includes Haason Reddick, but the Lions have also been connected to Za’Darius Smith. The Browns have already moved Amari Cooper, so it would come as little surprise if the team were to deal away the three-time Pro Bowler in a move which would allow him to return to the NFC North. Smith certainly seems to be open to a trade, and Detroit would easily be able to absorb the remainder of his $1.2MM 2024 salary.
While Smith could be on the move, fellow Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett is (understandably) seen as untouchable. That is also the case for Raiders start Maxx Crosby, with owner Mark Davis making it clear a trade will not be considered before or after the deadline. Even though the Titans have been active already on the trade front, they too will not entertain a deal involving two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. While talks have taken place related to Cooper Kupp, the Rams do not expect to move on from the former Super Bowl MVP.
The receiver position remains one to watch even with Davante Adams (Jets), Cooper (Bills) and DeAndre Hopkins (Chiefs) already joining new teams. As the Panthers consider selling off pending free agents, Diontae Johnson could be available for a mid-round pick. In the case of the Jaguars, Christian Kirk is still a candidate to be dealt (although he is not a pending free agent). Teams like the Steelers and Chargers have yet to add a pass-catcher, but they have shown interest and could pull off a move in the coming days.
Diontae Johnson is viewed as the most likely receiver domino to fall between now and the November 5 trade deadline, but Christian Kirk continues to be a name to monitor. The Jaguars wideout was mentioned as a player drawing interest earlier this month, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that has continued, naming the seventh-year veteran alongside Johnson in terms of the receivers who have generated the most trade buzz following the Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins swaps.
Kirk brings an element Johnson does not, as he is signed through 2025. Playing on the four-year, $72MM pact that received scrutiny at the time, the Jags slot receiver now merely sits 25th in receiver AAV. Kirk’s 2022 free agency deal helped ignite the WR market that year, and another boom took place this offseason to render the Jacksonville deal an upper-middle-class pact. Kirk is 27 and attached to a $14.5MM base salary, which will be an issue for teams, as more than $7.5MM will remain for an acquiring team post-Week 8.
Although Kirk’s per-year number has dropped considerably on an exploding market, the Jags do have both Evan Engram and Gabe Davis signed to eight-figure AAVs. They also used a first-round pick on Brian Thomas Jr. this year. Kirk served as Trevor Lawrence‘s most trusted target in 2022 and ’23; as Thomas has shown considerable promise, Kirk has caught 25 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown this season.
Here is the latest from the WR ranks:
- Add Adam Thielen to the list of Panthers potential trade chips at receiver. While Johnson is likely to go and Jonathan Mingo is viewed as a player who may not be a long-term fit, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport mentions Thielen as a candidate to be on the move as well. This would add up, as Thielen is 34 and tied to a through-2025 contract that does not have any guarantees remaining for next season. Thielen topped 1,000 yards for a woeful Panthers team last season, residing as Bryce Young‘s clear-cut top target. The ex-Viking’s follow-up effort, however, included an IR stay for a hamstring injury. Carolina has not yet activated the 12th-year veteran from IR. Injuries and age will limit Carolina’s return, but the three-time 1,000-yard pass catcher would only be owed barely $2MM if acquired before the deadline.
- Tutu Atwell‘s role will diminish with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back. The diminutive Rams receiver indeed saw his snap share on offense plummet from 78% in Week 7 to 12% Thursday night. Atwell has shown flashes for the Rams, but he has not delivered extended stretches of reliability. Los Angeles did not have the former second-round pick among its top three receivers during last season’s stretch run, and ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop notes he is unlikely to be extended before his contract expires in March. This could make Atwell a trade candidate, though given the Rams’ back-to-back wins and their WR health issues, it would make more sense for the team to hang onto the contract-year player.
- It could be a while before Skyy Moore returns to the Chiefs. Andy Reid said (via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor) this week the former second-round pick will need to have his core muscle injury “fixed”; the defending Super Bowl champions placed Moore on IR this week. Viewed as a starter to open last season, Moore could not hold up in that role and did not factor into Kansas City’s six-game win streak to close the year. While playing more due to the injuries to Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice early this season, Moore does not have a catch in 2024.
- The Patriots made Javon Baker a healthy scratch last week, marking the third straight game that has happened for the rookie. Baker appeared to miss or show up late for a team function in London, as ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss mentions an itinerary “hiccup” took place to help lead the fourth-round pick to the sideline once again. Baker could have a path up New England’s depth chart if Kendrick Bourne and/or K.J. Osborn are moved, but he has played in just two games as a rookie. Baker is active for Week 8.
Before agreeing to acquire Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Chiefs entered discussions with the Rams on Cooper Kupp. Los Angeles was believed to be discussing the former All-Pro with teams, something Sean McVay confirmed after the team’s upset win over the Vikings on Thursday.
McVay, however, all but slammed the door on a Kupp trade before the Nov. 5 deadline. Other AFC teams joined the Chiefs, however, in discussing Kupp. The Bills and Steelers engaged in talks with the Rams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
For Buffalo, this effort most likely came before the team agreed to acquire Amari Cooper from Cleveland. While it would be interesting if the Bills pursued both players, especially as the Cooper trade only resulted in an $806K cap number hitting the perennial AFC East champions’ books, it seems logical the team explored Kupp and then centered its trade effort on Cooper. The Browns were preparing to hold onto Cooper for a bit longer, but the Bills’ interest — as their post-Stefon Diggs receiver plan showed early cracks — proved aggressive enough the struggling AFC North club moved on from the contract-year player ahead of Week 7.
The Steelers’ receiver need has been well chronicled, dating back to the draft. Pittsburgh joined Buffalo in showing interest in Deebo Samuel, as the 49ers discussed both he and Brandon Aiyuk in trades. Aiyuk then became Pittsburgh’s target — to the point trade framework was in place by August. The Steelers then saw Aiyuk remove them from consideration by recommitting to the 49ers via a four-year, $120MM deal. The now-Russell Wilson-quarterbacked team was also in on Davante Adams, only to see the ex-Packers star prefer to rejoin Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, who took on the recent Raider’s entire 2024 prorated salary — something other teams have been hesitant to do.
The Rams were seen as willing to pick up part of Kupp’s tab. It would cost just less than $9MM for a team to acquire Kupp this week, but with the Rams winning two straight the Kupp-Puka Nacua tandem making a significant impact in the team’s upset victory over the Vikings, the Rams standing down checks out. Kupp, 31, is signed for two more seasons — on the three-year, $80.1MM deal he inked months after his Super Bowl MVP showing — and could be an offseason trade candidate. Kupp would stand to built trade value by staying healthy — something he has failed to do since that stratospheric 2021 season — down the stretch.
With Kupp off the market and Adams, Cooper and Hopkins also dealt, the Steelers reside in an interesting position. The receiver most likely to be moved played five seasons in Pittsburgh. The Panthers are expected to deal Diontae Johnson, who had angled for a trade out of Pittsburgh. It should be considered unlikely the Steelers pay a mid-round pick to acquire one of their former wideouts. Beyond Johnson, the likes of Mike Williams, Christian Kirk, Adam Thielen and Patriots vets Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn are seen as trade candidates.
It seems probable Steelers finally pull the trigger on a trade. Although slot player Calvin Austin has contributed 203 receiving yards to the cause, none of the Steelers’ other George Pickens sidekicks have cleared 80 yards through seven games. With the team at 5-2 and sporting a high-end defensive unit, a buyer trade to help Wilson should be on the way. But options have dwindled since the team began this quest.
10:00pm: McVay confirmed on Friday (via Rodrigue) he and the Rams expect Kupp to remain in place past the deadline. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added during a Rich Eisen Show appearance that while talks have taken place regarding a trade, no such conversations have reached the level where a deal has appeared imminent (video link). Especially with Los Angeles back in the thick of the NFC West race, it would take a notable turn of events for Kupp to find himself on the move.
9:17am: Since reports of a potential Cooper Kupp trade began surfacing, the Rams have won two games and are now one game out of the NFC West lead. As such, they are less likely to be sellers.
The team saw Kupp and Puka Nacua‘s return to action make a considerable difference against the Vikings on Thursday night. The duo combined for 12 receptions, 157 yards and a touchdown in Week 8. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes, providing a ray of hope during an injury-plagued Los Angeles season.
Days after a report suggested the Rams were calling teams on Kupp, Sean McVay did not sound too eager to break up this WR duo. The eighth-year Rams HC said postgame he expects Kupp to stay with the team, though McVay did confirm (via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue) teams have called. Kupp, 31, remains signed through the 2026 season — on the three-year, $80.1MM deal he signed months after his Super Bowl LVI MVP effort — and has an injury history that would stand to give teams pause about taking on that contract.
Kupp is also due a $5MM guarantee in 2025. While the Rams have been willing to take on some of the former All-Pro’s remaining 2024 salary — roughly $8MM — an acquiring team would be responsible for that $5MM payment next year. Kupp is tied to base salaries of $12.5MM and $14.85MM — the latter amount nonguaranteed — in 2025 and ’26. The two future salaries would be less of a deterrent than Kupp’s 2024 money and the fact he has missed 17 games since Super Bowl LVI.
The Rams have also informed teams they would want a trade haul that surpasses where the Jets went for Davante Adams. New York agreed to take on all of Adams’ remaining 2024 salary and sent Las Vegas a conditional third-round pick. The Chiefs discussed Kupp with the Rams before agreeing to acquire DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans. Given the Rams’ form with Kupp and Nacua back in the fold, trading the older member of the tandem for a modest return would be a tough sell. Though, keeping Kupp will also bring risk due to his struggles staying healthy.
Thursday’s win also came with the Rams missing two offensive line starters. They will almost certainly not pull the trigger on a seller’s trade until after their Week 9 Seahawks matchup, as the prospect looms of Steve Avila and free agency addition Jonah Jackson returning. Both are eligible to be activated from IR.
Friday’s taxi squad moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Jonathan Ford
Los Angeles Rams
- Released (via injury settlement): LB Zach VanValkenburg
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Matt Dickerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Andy Isabella
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Ty Okada
- Released: LB Zeke Turner
A report indicating the Rams are making calls to teams on Cooper Kupp may have been overstating how interested the NFC West franchise is in moving its top Los Angeles 2.0-era wide receiver. Kupp’s name remains in trade rumors, but the Rams may have a price floor.
Tuesday’s report pointed to the Rams targeting a second-round pick to the point they would be willing to pay some of Kupp’s salary to secure such a return. Thursday, SI.com’s Albert Breer said (during a Rich Eisen Show appearance) teams are calling the Rams on Kupp. In order to move the former All-Pro and Super Bowl MVP, Breer adds the Rams want a return that outflanks what the Raiders received for Davante Adams.
The teams still hunting for WR help have undoubtedly noticed the Rams’ early-season struggles, leading to inquiries about Kupp. We heard before the Rams’ win over the Raiders that Kupp had drawn trade interest, but as the receiver prepares to return tonight along with Puka Nacua, his current team is probably not committed to selling just yet. The Rams travel to Seattle following their Vikings matchup; their next two results could determine how willing they are to sell.
It cost the Jets a conditional third-round pick to acquire Adams from the Raiders. Las Vegas could have upped that, in all likelihood, had a mandate not been in place for an acquiring team to pick up all of Adams’ prorated 2024 base salary. The Jets did so and agreed on terms that would send a second-rounder to the Raiders if certain conditions are met. Adams is unlikely to satisfy the conditions, as he would need to earn first- or second-team All-Pro acclaim (in a season that has already featured three missed games) or he would need to suit up for an AFC championship game.
If the Rams enter serious Kupp trade talks, they would probably need to pay a sizable portion of his base salary to net a second-rounder. Just less than $9MM remains on Kupp’s 2024 base salary. Though, he is due $5MM in 2025 guarantees, presenting another complication here. The Rams have Kupp signed through 2026 via the three-year, $80.1MM extension agreed to months after his triple-crown season concluded. As they could regroup and hope the 31-year-old target can stay healthy. If they are to move on now, Breer notes teams have been informed the price will need to be higher than Adams’.
While Adams has never matched Kupp’s dominance from 2021, the former Packers and Raiders standout has been far more consistent. Kupp has put together just two 1,000-yard seasons, with injuries consistently interfering. Kupp has an ACL tear (2018) on his medical sheet, and he underwent tightrope surgery to repair an injured ankle in 2022. Kupp saw a hamstring specialist due to a nagging issue that delayed his 2023 debut and has only played in two games due to an ankle malady this season. This health history, even with the Rams taking on plenty of base salary, will give teams pause on Kupp as a hired gun.
Responsible for the second-best receiving yardage season in NFL history, Kupp added 478 yards and six touchdowns in the 2021 playoffs. Only Larry Fitzgerald (2008) has bettered that yardage figure in a single postseason, with Kupp passing Hakeem Nicks‘ strong 2011 work. Kupp’s dominance that year has increased his standing in L.A., with Breer posits the optics of giving up Kupp for a third- or fourth-round return may factor into this Rams equation.
It will be interesting to see if the Rams drop their price or if this truly is a “take it or leave it” situation for a player who was part of Sean McVay‘s first draft class. The Chiefs discussed Kupp with the Rams before adding DeAndre Hopkins for a conditional fifth. The Rams have an extra week to determine their sales path, with this year’s deadline being moved to Nov. 5.
As it turns out, Puka Nacua did not need an extended ramp-up period to return from his knee injury. The Rams will have him ready to go for tonight’s Vikings matchup.
Los Angeles is officially activating Nacua from IR, a move that will come just two days after his return designation. The second-year player has missed most of this season, but just as Cooper Kupp returns, the younger of the Rams’ two receiver standouts will be back as well.
[RELATED: Rams Calling Teams On Cooper Kupp]
Nacua is unlikely to see a full workload, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter stops short of confirming he will play tonight. It would certainly be unusual for a team to take the step of activating a player for a Thursday-night game only to determine he is not ready. The Rams plan to play Nacua, per Schefter, and will determine how much he will be used based on pregame warmups.
The Rams have played most of this season without Kupp and Nacua, the latter of which suffering a PCL sprain — an aggravation of a knee injury sustained in training camp. This has been a key driver of the Rams’ 2-4 start.
Nacua was perhaps the central difference-maker in the Rams going from a retooling squad to a wild-card entrant in 2023, setting the rookie record for receiving yardage (1,486). Nacua played in all 17 games as a rookie and helped the Rams put the Lions on the ropes in Round 1. As this year’s Rams squad clings to hopes of returning to the playoffs, and interesting all-hands-on-deck opportunity emerges thanks to some timely injury returns.
Missing much of camp, Nacua returned from the knee issue in time for Week 1. He only made it through 25 snaps in the Lions rematch, leaving the game after catching one pass for four yards. As Kupp trade rumors circulate, Nacua’s performance tonight — against a 5-1 Vikings team — may determine how eager the Rams are to part with the former All-Pro. The Rams dropping to 2-5 would make them a more logical seller, putting Matthew Stafford in limbo — from a long-term perspective, at least — as well. The Kupp-Nacua tandem can aim to prevent this reality from taking shape with an upset tonight.
Tutu Atwell leads the Rams with 332 receiving yards, with rookie Jordan Whittington checking in with 201 and Demarcus Robinson with 198. Moving this trio down the depth chart will benefit Sean McVay‘s team, though part-time Nacua usage would keep some of the tertiary targets as regulars.
Kupp is coming off of his latest ankle injury, one that has seen him sidelined since Week 2. He was a full practice participant this week. He and Nacua played 11 games together last season, combining for eight 100-yard outings in that time. The Rams will hope their returns spark an offense still missing multiple starting O-linemen. Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson and Joe Noteboom remain on IR, joining safety John Johnson. As was the case in 2022, the Rams are running short on injury activations. They are down to four with 10 games to go, though it is understandable the team is taking a short-term approach here given its sluggish start.
9:59pm: Tennessee is set to pay $2.5MM of Hopkins’ remaining base salary, Rapoport tweets. This will cover roughly half of Hopkins’ remaining total. The $2.5MM will be paid out as a signing bonus, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
As far as conditions go, the Chiefs will need to qualify for Super Bowl LIX with Hopkins playing 60% of the snaps during the regular season for the pick to climb from a fifth- to a fourth-rounder.
7:15am: The wide receiver market’s latest domino involves the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions. Decimated at the position, the Chiefs are making their move. They are expected to acquire DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.
Kansas City pursued Hopkins via trade and made a free agency offer — once the Cardinals ended up cutting him — in 2023. The team will circle back to the decorated pass catcher, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting Kansas City is sending a conditional fifth-round pick to Tennessee for Hopkins. Should conditions be met, Tennessee’s pick can rise to a fourth. A Super Bowl appearance will likely factor into the conditions, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets.
Cooper Kupp also came up during the Chiefs’ WR search, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, but financial issues impeded them regarding a deal with the Rams. The Chiefs, who sit in the bottom quartile in terms of cap space ($4.16MM entering Wednesday), required a team who would take on a departing player’s salary to fill their receiver need. The Titans are expected to eat some of Hopkins’ salary, Russini adds. It does not appear the Rams are prepared to eat a significant chunk of Kupp’s 2024 base.
The Chiefs were again connected to Hopkins recently, and it appears the Titans will pay some of the veteran’s prorated base salary to acquire the Day 3 pick. A $4.86MM tab remains on Hopkins’ 2024 base on a two-year, $26MM deal — one that proved too rich for the Chiefs during their 2023 free agency pursuit. Still finalizing the deal, the Chiefs are preparing to have Hopkins in uniform for their Week 8 Raiders matchup, Russini adds.
Hopkins, 32, has struggled to establish consistency this season. But that has been an issue across the Titans’ pass offense, as big-ticket free agency pickup Calvin Ridley has also failed to produce much in the way of consequence in a Tennessee passing attack featuring Will Levis and Mason Rudolph at the controls. Hopkins has 15 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown this season.
Although the Chiefs did extensive work on Hopkins in 2023, Rapoport indicates this trade did not gain steam until early this week. The team was targeting a player who could help inside and in the red zone, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager reports. A player who thrived on contested catches at his peak, Hopkins is not at this Texans-era apex any longer. But he has 79 career TDs and is coming off a 1,000-yard season.
Down both Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown for the season, the Chiefs had been reliant on players they reacquired. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman played roles for the depleted WR cadre, but the former is now down with a hamstring injury. The Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy first-round pick has delivered flashes, but the Texas-developed speedster has not offered consistency yet. Hopkins will stand to help the team in that department, providing help as a possession receiver to help free up the likes of Worthy and Travis Kelce.
This move comes barely a week after the Jets and Bills made their WR strikes, with both Davante Adams and Amari Cooper heading to New York. Carrying a lower ceiling at this point in his career, Hopkins will change teams for a lower price. Having battled injuries since his second Cardinals season, the three-time first-team All-Pro missed several weeks with a knee malady this summer. Hopkins, however, returned in time for Week 1 and has not missed a game. Considering the Chiefs’ in-house injury problems, it is clear they feel confident their new piece can stay healthy.
Hopkins loomed as a bigger trade piece in 2023, when countless rumors emerged about the receiver amid a Cardinals regime change. The former Texans star had loomed as a player the Monti Ossenfort-led front office was set to move on from, and the Chiefs came up on Hopkins’ list of preferred destinations. The Chiefs discussed Hopkins with the Cardinals, joining the Bills in that regard. But those talks broke down for salary reasons. Hopkins, who had signed a $27.5MM-per-year extension with the Cards, became unwilling to discuss taking a pay cut to facilitate a trade upon learning the Ravens gave Odell Beckham Jr. a fully guaranteed $15MM. The Cardinals then cut him.
While the Chiefs did not join the Titans and Patriots in hosting Hopkins as a free agent last summer, they made an offer. The allure of playing with Patrick Mahomes did not supersede what was viewed as a far superior Titans proposal, with Hopkins signing a two-year, $26MM deal with the then-Mike Vrabel-led Titans. Kansas City and New England are believed to have offered incentive-laden deals that came in well short of where Tennessee did.
Hopkins joined a team then quarterbacked by Ryan Tannehill, but the Titans quickly geared their mission around Levis. Hopkins played a central role in Levis’ rookie-year development, and despite the second-round pick struggling, his top receiver cranked out a seventh 1,000-yard season. Hopkins totaled 1,057 yards last year. This was off the pace he had set in Houston and during his first Arizona season, but the four-contract player — initially a 2013 Texans first-round pick — showed he could still contribute. Hopkins played all 17 games last season, representing an important selling point.
Benching Tannehill during what turned out to be Vrabel’s final season, the Titans heard from teams on Hopkins before last year’s deadline. They passed on moving both he and Derrick Henry. After Henry walked in free agency, the Titans again received interest on their oldest wide receiver. Hopkins had expressed a desire to finish his career in Tennessee, and the Titans were not believed to be shopping him. But they will move on from the contract-year player for a late-round pick.
The Rams are seeking a second-rounder for Kupp, who is only one year younger than Hopkins. Kupp, however, produced one of the greatest seasons in wide receiver history in 2021 and has been highly productive when healthy since. The latter caveat, coupled with a higher salary, will hurt the Rams’ negotiating position. The Titans have Ridley on a four-year, $92MM deal; the 1-5 team will keep building around around the recent free agency addition while saying goodbye to their 2023 free agent prize.
This marks the third straight year the Chiefs have acquired a wideout via trade in-season. Their Kadarius Toney swing ultimately backfired, despite a Super Bowl-record punt return, with the team cutting the shifty but unreliable ex-first-rounder in August. Hardman delivered the Super Bowl LVIII walk-off touchdown and re-signed with the team. The Chiefs will likely continue to involve Hardman in their offense, but the still-Kelce-centered passing attack will now heavily feature Hopkins alongside Worthy.