If the Chiefs sign De'Andre Hopkins, rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice could benefit even more than Patrick Mahomes.
De'Andre Hopkins is the best free-agent wide receiver left on the open market. Several teams appear interested in his services, including wideout-needy organizations like the Patriots and Titans. However, the Kansas City Chiefs remain a possibility.
Former ESPN analyst Trey Wingo recently speculated that Hopkins was waiting on Kansas City general manager Brett Veach to clear up some cap room.
As of this writing, Kansas City has yet to make an offer as competitive as the Titans or Patriots, which have the cap flexibility to sign Hopkins should he choose one party over the other. The Chiefs, should they emerge as a serious suitor, would provide Hopkins the easiest path to a Super Bowl.
Chiefs: DeAndre Hopkins addition could have other benefits
Adding a player like Hopkins to the wide receiver room would knock some young Chiefs down the depth chart, but they may be better for it. For example, second-round selection Rashee Rice could use more time to develop, rather than being thrown into the mix as the end-all, be-all Mecole Hardman replacement.
After he was selected by Kansas City, Rice was asked who he compared his game to. Hopkins was at the top of that list.
"I'll probably say DeAndre Hopkins just because we both attack the ball real aggressive," Rice said, per Chiefs Wire. "And then you never know what we can do when the ball's in our hands."
The chance to work alongside the wideout he most models his game after would be valuable for Rice as he adjusts to the NFL game. He'd still receive plenty of opportunities in practice, as vets like Hopkins often need time off during the week, and could grow into the player the Chiefs believe he can become.
It's a win-win for everyone involved.
