2 winners from Titans trading DeAndre Hopkins to Chiefs (and 2 losers)

The Tennessee Titans are trading wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick that could become a fourth rounder, according to multiple reports. Hopkins leaves Tennessee after recording 90 receptions for 1,230 yards and eight touchdowns in a season-and-a-half with the team.



Trading Hopkins will leave a drastic impact on both the immediate and future iterations of the Titans. General manager Ran Carthon has officially admitted defeat on the 2024 season. We've identified some winners and losers from the blockbuster trade involving Hopkins.

Loser: Will Levis

Hopkins was by far Will Levis' most trusted and familiar target. The five-time Pro Bowler recorded a historic three touchdown catches in Levis' debut start against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 last season. The two continued to display chemistry throughout 2023, and Carthon spent the offseason building the offense around Hopkins and his young quarterback.

The Titans entered the 2024 campaign wanting to find out whether or not Levis is a franchise quarterback. The answer, to date, has been a resounding no. Trading away Hopkins, his favorite pass catcher, indicates the Titans are preparing to replace the struggling sophomore in the offseason.

Winner: Calvin Ridley

The Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a four-year contract worth $92 million in the offseason. Ridley and Hopkins were expected to form an elite pass-catching duo for Levis. That prevailing hope hasn't come to fruition. And with Hopkins no longer in Tennessee, it's the former that becomes the clear-cut No. 1 receiver.

The Titans have consistently struggled to get Ridley involved this season. He's recorded just 12 receptions for 183 yards and one touchdown in six appearances. With Hopkins now in Kansas City, even more pressure will be placed on Levis and head coach Brian Callahan to get Ridley established in the passing offense.

Loser: Ran Carthon

Carthon spent the offseason preparing his Titans to be immediate postseason contenders. He traded away draft capital for players like L'Jarius Sneed and Ernest Jones IV. He then committed big-time dollars to veterans like Sneed and Ridley. Fast forward seven weeks into the season, and the 1-5 Titans are officially sellers at the NFL trade deadline.

Furthermore, the Titans are getting a 2025 fifth-round pick that could become a fourth-round selection if certain incentives are met, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. That's less of a return than fellow veteran receivers Amari Cooper and Davante Adams netted for their teams in recent trades. Adding insult to injury, the Titans are reportedly eating a sizable chunk of Hopkins' remaining salary to facilitate this deal.

Winner: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine leads the Titans in touchdown receptions (two) this season despite seeing just six targets all season long. Westbrook-Ikhine has scored touchdowns in back-to-back contests. He now projects as Hopkins' direct replacement as the starting "X" receiver in Tennessee's offense.

Ridley will continue playing the "Z" and Tyler Boyd will command his usual slot position. With Treylon Burks on IR for the foreseeable future, there's precious little in Westbrook-Ikhine's way. Currently playing out a one-year contract, Westbrook-Ikhine could parlay this opportunity into a bigger payday in the offseason.