Chiefs Reported DeAndre Hopkins Deal Has Trickle-Down Effect On Patriots

The New England Patriots were never going to acquire DeAndre Hopkins, despite their obvious need for a top wide receiver. But the reported trade sending Hopkins from Tennessee to Kansas City still has a trickle-down effect in Foxboro, Mass.

It likely means the Patriots have one less suitor for their wide receivers.

The unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs were widely viewed as an NFL trade deadline buyer even before they dealt for Hopkins. And well-known superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes would benefit from adding a wideout given Kansas City’s streak of injuries.

Given the Patriots have two veteran receivers (Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn) who feel like potential sells, the Chiefs very well could have served as a landing spot. Mahomes likely would have turned either of them into impactful playmakers.

Well, it no longer feels like it will be the case.

Should New England be interested in trading either of those players — following Osborn’s recent social media activity, especially — other options likely remain. That’s not to say the 1-6 Patriots have players everybody is lining up for, of course. New England surely won’t receive any game-changing assets in return. Hopkins and a fifth-round pick went to Kansas City for a fourth-rounder.

But the dysfunctional Patriots are amid a free fall and would be wise to listen to offers on players who will get them something in return, or players who are headed to the open market in March.

While the Chiefs likely are off the board, the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be interested. The 49ers recently lost Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending knee injury and the Buccaneers lost Chris Godwin to a dislocated ankle.