offGrid NFL - Titans to sign DeAndre Hopkins: why did he choose Tennessee?

The Tennessee Titans are expected to sign three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to a two-year, $26 million contract, after weeks of speculation on his future.

Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, was released by the Arizona Cardinals back in May. But the 31-year-old ends up a winner, signing a deal which has a base value of $12 million for Year 1 with a chance to get up to $15 million, and in total the contract can be worth up to $32 million with incentives, per reports.

DeAndre Hopkins in the new Titans threads 👀 pic.twitter.com/7Cutcf9c5A
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 16, 2023

Despite also meeting with the Patriots this month, the Titans eventually proved too good an opportunity. The acquisition is a huge coup for new general manager Ran Carthon, and it goes a long way in filling the void felt last season after the franchise traded A.J. Brown during the 2022 NFL Draft.

Hopkins’ impact in a weak receiving room

Hopkins is a great addition for a team considered by many to have the worst receiving groups in the NFL heading into 2023.

The signing gives Tennessee a legitimate No. 1 receiver across from second-year Treylon Burks, who needs time to develop after an injury-hit rookie season last year. Hopkins will take a lot of pressure off Burks and should improve his chances of favourable matchups.

One of the best in the business is headed to Tennessee. 🍿@DeAndreHopkins | @Titans pic.twitter.com/pWIeB7EyaY
— NFL (@NFL) July 16, 2023

Having been drafted by the Texans in 2013, Hopkins made a name for himself in Houston as a superstar receiver, before being traded to the Cardinals in 2020. After a turbulent few years in Arizona, the marriage broke up this offseason.

For his career, D-Hop has 853 receptions for 11,298 yards and 71 touchdowns. One of the best in his position in his generation, Hopkins deserves some glory and years on poor teams, which makes the move to Tennessee all the more intriguing.

Does the move push Tennessee back into championship contention?

The Titans have a lot of issues on their roster. Offensive line is still a potential problem, given the amount of changes made this offseason, with the likes of Taylor Lewan and Ben Jones leaving, and which won’t have right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere for the first six games because of a gambling suspension.

Big deal for the #Titans is now the offensive line. They'll need to figure out what works at RT while Nicholas Petit-Frere is out the first 6 weeks. George Fant makes the most sense from a FA standpoint.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) July 16, 2023

While signing a proven veteran is a massive positive, one deal isn’t going to push them straight back into the conversation as an AFC elite side. But Hopkins will have signed for the team for a reason, and given his age, he’ll only be interested in win-now situations.

In Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill, the Titans do have some elite players on offensive, and we all know how difficult it is to break down Mike Vrabel’s game plans and his tough defense, especially in Nashville. The AFC South still isn’t the most competitive, so Hopkins and the Titans do have a good chance of being there-or-there abouts come the postseason.