The move leaves the Titans in a strange predicament. The stated goal for this season is to develop quarterback Will Levis and make him comfortable in first-year coach Brian Callahan's offense, but now the Titans will have to progress through the rest of the season without their most reliable pass catcher.

In the deal, the Titans sent Hopkins to the Chiefs in exchange for a conditional fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft. The selection can move up to the fourth round if the Chiefs make the Super Bowl and Hopkins plays 60 percent of the snaps. The Titans also paid Hopkins $2.5 million in salary to make the deal happen.

DeAndre Hopkins, who has had a pretty bad year for the hapless Tennessee Titans, is now joining the Kansas City Chiefs, a move that was needed given the Rashee Rice injury that left a sizeable hole at wide receiver for Patrick Mahomes’ squad.