Chiefs' DeAndre Hopkins: Playing Meaningful Games Will Take Me to a 'Different Level'

DeAndre Hopkins expressed his gratitude to the Tennessee Titans for trading him to a contender like the Kansas City Chiefs while speaking to reporters on Thursday, noting that he was excited to play "meaningful games."

"It means a lot," he said of playing for a contender. "It takes your game to a different level. It take your focus, your drive knowing that you're playing for something. It takes your game to a different level. I haven't played meaningful football in a couple years since we probably started 8-0 in Arizona. So it takes your game to a different level."

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Titans received a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick that becomes a fourth-rounder if Kansas City reaches the Super Bowl and Hopkins plays in 60 percent of the team's snaps for the rest of the season. The Titans are also picking up $2.5 million of the $8 million remaining on his salary this year.

It was a major pickup for a Kansas City team beset by injuries at the receiver position, with Rashee Rice out for the season, Marquise Brown and Skyy Moore on injured reserve and JuJu Smith-Schuster dealing with a hamstring injury.

That left rookie Xavier Worthy and Mecole Hardman as the top options at receiver.

Enter Hopkins. The 32-year-old is no longer the player who was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection in his prime, but he's an immediate upgrade at the position and should immediately be Patrick Mahomes' top option on the outside.

Hopkins will also be plenty motivated to help the Chiefs go on a deep playoff run.

"Very important," he told reporters about making such a run. "I think I've done a lot, all the accolades that I can accomplish as far as personal. So I think just playing meaningful football in January is what's left on the list."

The 6-0 Chiefs are the only undefeated team remaining in football despite Mahomes on pace to have easily his worst season as a professional (1,389 yards, six touchdowns, eight interceptions, 67.9 completion percentage).

If Hopkins indeed upgrades the passing game as expected, an already strong Kansas City team will absolutely be playing meaningful football in January.