[BossChief]

Might as well put this here, too.

Originally Posted by BossChief

Here’s some more fan fiction…buckle up and enjoy…

This whole “Dhop to KC” story was based on no more than a grand total of 45 minutes of BVs time. 2 phone calls to the team and a brief conversation with the agent to try to facilitate a trade. That’s it. Here’s how it went down. Take it for what it’s worth.

When BV originally called (on the day Arizona made it public that Hopkins may get traded) and they told him the ridiculous asking price (a second and another pick and a player) the whole conversation didn’t last more than 10 minutes. Brett hanging up saying “those guys are nuts” is literally how it ended. Brett addressed concerns, but Arizona was only interested in getting max return a year after guys like Adams and Hill get mega deals in mega trades. They completely overplayed their hand. The call was ended abruptly as the 2 sides were very far apart, but a line of communication was opened.

Then, a follow up call (after the Cooks trade) to try to talk some sense into them on what needs to happen to facilitate a trade that makes sense happened within minutes of the trade. Brett was very composed and made a quality offer of pick 135 and Willie Gay Jr for Hopkins and Arizona restructures the deal before the trade by converting 10m of the base salary for 2023 to bonus and eating the dead money. Arizona was still dead set on keeping him if they don’t get their price, but KC was firm in their offer. That’s also why KC signed Drue Tranquill. They were within hours/days of each other. Maybe the same day. Gay was going to Arizona if they could figure out the $$$stuff.

Arizona expected Hopkins to take a paycut for 5m and they would bonus him the other 5m so KC could make the contract work by restructuring it once the trade was done to help the immediate cap figure. Hopkins said to his agent at that time that he wouldn’t take a paycut to make the trade work (but that he wouldn’t want an aav raise if KC wanted to give him an extension) and Arizona chose not to cut a check for 10m to facilitate the trade and it fell apart. Willie Gay heard he might be traded and was notified that was a possibility when he voiced his concern…it was that close.

Brett called and talked directly to Hopkins agent for more than a few minutes towards the end of negotiations, trying to get him to have Deandre take a cut. Tried playing the angle of how good DHop would be in KC with Pat and how Hopkins can win a title before the window closes. It was an impressive pitch. Brett tried to explain to him *in detail* how he would make the $ back in endorsements after a Super Bowl and even during the year.. Hopkins and his agent didn’t budge, citing how that would diminish his stature by him publicly taking a paycut.

And now the whole relationship between the team and WGJ is damaged, as well. I hate to say it, but I won’t be surprised if he’s traded before or during training camp. He loves it in KC and wants to stay long term, but doesn’t feel like KC wants to keep him…and you can understand why. We might lose him for less than we think because unless he can reset his mindset, this one was a gut punch to him and the team may try to give him a chance by trading him to a team in the NFC that he would have a chance to earn a long term deal for.

It’s the reality of having a QB on a mega contract. Guys like WGJ move on to other teams and have great careers and KC replaces them with cost controlled options.

Right after the deal completely fell through and Veach knew it wasn’t going to happen, he called Pat and told him they were looking to draft him a top talent WR and that’s when Pat started having throwing sessions with a few of the guys that would be in the draft. Rice was the first one Pat called and Pat told him on the phone he thinks he’s similar to Hopkins and he flew him out to work with him for a couple days.

Brett and Pat are in constant communication and Pat had the highest praise for Rice after their sessions in how he picked up what Patrick was seeing and adjusting the way Pat wanted him to. They had a good relationship on the field. Brett asked Pat what he thinks of Johnston and Flowers and Pat watched some film of them against top competition and called them to work out with them.

Pat didn’t think Rice and Johnston were even comparable. Said “night and day” to Veach after the throwing sessions with Johnston. Basically said Rice does everything Johnston does, plus a lot more…and that he does it better.

Pat fell in LOVE with Flowers, though. Absolutely loved him…and the feeling was mutual. When Mahomes talked to Brett about Flowers, he face timed him so he could see his smile. That was BVs target for the first round going into the draft. He tried moving up to every slot after 17 to try and get him, but no AFC teams would offer their pick without overcharging and the NFC teams either stayed out or also wanted above chart value to move down to 31 because of the drop off in talent moving that far back.

The final call to move up was to Baltimore and they laughed a little on the phone and said they are taking him if we don’t send 31 and 63. A drastic overcharge because that’s how they see the player.

So BV took Felix in the first and started making calls about moving up with the 100% intention of doing whatever it takes to get Rice. Even telling Clark he’s going to get “the kid from SMU” before round 2 started.

And an NFC team helped them get to 55 by taking exact chart value in the trade.

And Patrick Mahomes gets his young Deandre Hopkins in Rice.

What an amazing time to be a Chiefs fan.