DeAndre Hopkins has made his decision as he’s signing with the Tennessee Titans. (Photo by Wesley … [+]
DeAndre Hopkins has made his decision.
As first reported by Doug Kyed of AtoZ Sports Nashville, the five-time All-Pro wide receiver is expected to sign with the Tennessee Titans.
“Free-agent WR DeAndre Hopkins is expected to sign with the Titans, per source,” writes Kyed. “Deal is expected to become official over the next few days.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network had more details on the value of the contract, reporting that it’s for two years, $26 million with up to $32 million in incentives.
“The Titans are giving star WR DeAndre Hopkins a 2-year, $26M deal worth up to $32M with incentives, source said,” Rapoport tweeted. “He gets a base of $12M in Year 1 with a chance to get to $15M.”
The deal comes up a little short of the initial report of Hopkins’ salary wishes which were similar to the deal that Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Beckham signed a one-year, $15 million deal with another $3 million tacked on in incentives.
Hopkins’ signing means instead of playing for Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots —he visited with the Patriots — or Super Bowl contenders such as the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens, he’ll instead look to lead the Titans back to the playoffs after a disappointing season last year.
After clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs during the 2021 season, the Titans fell back down to earth last year. Tennessee failed to make the postseason, posting a 7-10 record while losing in the season finale — with the AFC South title on the line — to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The signing of Hopkins puts to rest any thought that the Titans are rebuilding this season and it cements that franchise quarterback Ryan Tannehill — who has faced trade rumors in recent months — will return for the last year of his four-year, $118 million contract. Running back Derrick Henry also faced trade rumors earlier in the offseason, which new general manager Ran Carthon refuted.
It also means that money was a big determining factor for Hopkins. Both the Chiefs and Bills were interested in signing Hopkins, but only if he was willing to accept cheap, incentive-laden deals due to their lack of salary cap space.
Due to injuries and a six-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, Hopkins’ production has dipped over the past couple of seasons. In nine games last season with the Arizona Cardinals, Hopkins posted 64 receptions for 717 receiving yards, but he did so on a career-low 11.2 yards per reception. Furthermore, his three receiving touchdowns were his lowest output since his rookie season when he produced two touchdowns.
However, he did recently post eight touchdowns in just 10 games during the 2021 season and is only a couple years removed from a 2020 season in which he posted a career-high 115 receptions for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hopkins still posted an above-average 72.9 offensive grade and 73.5 receiving grade last season. Among receivers with at least 50 targets, Hopkins ranked 32nd in offensive grade and 35th in receiving grade.
Hopkins’ signing with the Titans marks his return to the AFC South after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Houston Texans. Furthermore, it reunites him with Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who served as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator with the Texans while Hopkins was in Houston. Tennessee offensive coordinator Tim Kelly also called plays for Houston in 2019 when Hopkins was there.
Following Hopkins’ signing, he’s expected to step in as the No. 1 receiver opposite of second-year man Treylon Burks.
With Hopkins, Henry and Tannehill in the fold, the Titans once again look like a formidable threat in the AFC South as they look to unseat the Jaguars for division supremacy.