Worrying trend has Chiefs fans worried about DeAndre Hopkins trade

The Kansas City Chiefs made a big move on Wednesday morning, acquiring wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans for a conditional fourth-round pick. The addition of Hopkins immediately bolsters the Chiefs' injured and underperforming wide receiver room.

Still, this isn't the first time this season that the Chiefs have made a move to expand their receiving room. In 2022, the Chiefs traded a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick to the New York Giants for Kadarius Toney. Then, last season, they traded a seventh-round pick to the Jets to reacquire Mecole Hardman.

Toney spent a season and a half with the Chiefs, collecting 41 catches on 55 targets for 340 yards and three touchdowns. While Toney's stats don't suggest he has a drop problem with the Chiefs, that's certainly the case. Toney had some massive drops in key moments that cost the Chiefs games.

Hardman, on the other hand, is still on the team. Since returning to the Chiefs, Hardman has recorded 19 receptions on 27 targets for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Hardman's biggest flaw is that he is more of a player with speed than an all-down wide receiver.

Hopkins is certainly a better player than Hardman and Toney. However, his career is on the decline. Last season, Hopkins had 75 receptions on 135 targets for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. Entering this season, Hopkins has 15 receptions on 21 targets for 173 yards and a touchdown.

While his production may not suggest he is in decline, his play does. According to former NFL backup quarterback Chase Daniel, Hopkins' route tree looked limited this season.

Now Daniel didn't say he doesn't think Hopkins will be successful with the Chiefs; He just said that Hopkins doesn't seem to be the same player he once was.

As long as Hopkins has a bigger impact than Toney and Hardman, which he should, the trade will be a win for the Chiefs.

More Chiefs news and rumors: