Report: Potential Chris Jones deal could help Chiefs land DeAndre Hopkins

The Kansas City Chiefs are committed to getting pass rusher Chris Jones a new deal and it could lead to DeAndre Hopkins, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Right now, Kansas City wants to lock up Jones and get him a better looking deal. Doing so opens up the floodgates for more superstars in Kansas City.

That could mean Hopkins in a new shade of red this season.

“Well, the Chiefs are committed to getting him a new deal,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Could be closer to training camp or even in the days after, but he’s got a $28 million cap hit, so if they extend him, they not only lock up a premier player, they would have a ton of new cap space to play with because of that proration of the signing bonus and the new money. 

“That could lead into a player like DeAndre Hopkins, if they’re willing to wait that out or if Hopkins is willing to wait because the Chiefs have been linked to Hopkins. Showed some mild interest at least around the time when he was still with the Cardinals and a trade was on the table.”

But in order to get Hopkins, essentially a luxury item, the Chiefs have to take care of Jones.

“I don’t expect the Chiefs to do anything unless they get that Jones deal done,” Fowler said. “They also have cornerback Lagarious Sneed that they can potentially pay. He’s a promising young player, 2024  free agent, so they want to keep their own. But if they get more and more money to play with, they are a team to watch out for, for Hopkins, or maybe another weapon.”

Before he makes a decision on his future, though, Hopkins decided to take to social media where he explained what he’s going to bring to his future team.

“Whoever’s in my future wide receiver group,” Hopkins said. “I promise I will make your job easy.”

Heck, Hopkins’ life might be pretty easy with the Chiefs if he’s playing with Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs already won two Super Bowls and made three of the last four big games.

Imagine a third title in five years and a second in a row. It’s almost unfair if Mahomes gets Hopkins, among his other weapons.

Hopkins was limited to nine games last year and finished with 64 catches, 717 yards, three touchdowns and 11.2 yards per catch.

With the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals, Hopkins has a career stat line of 853 catches, 11,298 yards, 71 touchdowns and 13.2 yards per catch.