Playing with Patrick Mahomes for just the second time in the Chiefs offense. It didn’t take long for their newbie receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, to build a connection with the three-time Super Bowl Champion. Helping the Chiefs extend their unbeaten record to 8-0 on Monday night. Hopkins not only earned plaudits from all over the NFL but also the four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.

There was a time last year when Hopkins was only a free agent coming out of Arizona. And Aaron Rodgers was just starting his new chapter with the Jets after spending 18 seasons in Green Bay. Well, their possible duo was even termed a dream pairing by All Cardinals editor Donnie Druin: “Rodgers to Hopkins is a dream pairing, right?” It could have been, but we might never know, as Hopkins ended up signing with the Titans. While Rodgers failed to play more than 4 snaps last season because of an ACL injury.

Now, after 9 weeks of NFL action and the Chiefs getting their hands upon D Hop with just a conditional fifth-round pick. Rodgers spoke highly of the 32-year-old by calling him a special player: “There’s certain guys that can fit in any system. De Andre Hopkins is a special player and I’ve always enjoyed watching him play.” Well, he was indeed a special player, as Hopkins caught 8 catches on just nine targets on Monday.

His two TDs last night were the first time Hopkins had scored multiple TDs this season. The first one was a simple one-yard TD, while his second TD for 5-yards helped the Chiefs gain a crucial lead with just 5 minutes to play. This even earned him praise from head coach Andy Reid, who also spoke about the connection he got going with Mahomes: “Those two, you talk about being on the same page, they were on the same page.”

Even Mahomes didn’t mince his words to shower praise on Hopkins grinding out plays: “He’s so good at winning 1-on-1. To be able to have him down in the red zone, third-down situations, he does a good job of filling out and finding those windows, kind of like Travis Kelce does.” As for the Chiefs TE, he also found his mojo back with Hopkins on the offense. Over the last two games, Kelce has recorded 24 catches for 190 yards and a single TD. Well, the fans are also scared to see D Hop and Mahomes landing on the same team this season.

Patrick Mahomes and DeAndre Hopkins connection has the NFL fans worried about their franchises’ future

“DeAndre Hopkins going from Will Levis and the Titans to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.” Before joining Mahomes’ offense in Kansas City, Hopkins played with the Titans QB Will Levis. And over six games he started in Tennessee, Hopkins only recorded 173 receiving yards and a single TD. But now he leads the receiver room in Kansas City, which lost Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown to season-long injuries. Another fan pointed out the trust and chemistry they were able to build in just two weeks: “The trust and chemistry between Mahomes and Hopkins in such a short time is undeniable.” 

Someone also blamed the league for letting Mahomes combine with D Hop in Kansas City: “The league really let Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs get DeAndre Hopkins.” Now, looking back at their bright future together, that conditional fifth-round pick that the Chiefs sent to Tennessee does seem like daylight robbery. However, taking nothing away from the Chiefs, they do know how to turn good players into great players quickly.

Their finding gold in Hopkins could finally propel them to their unprecedented 3-peat that has never been achieved before in the NFL.