Titans, WR DeAndre Hopkins Reach 2-Year, $26M Deal
Analysis 7/16/23
Perhaps the biggest remaining free agent is no longer on the market after DeAndre Hopkins agreed to a two-year, $26 million deal with the Tennessee Titans, NFL Media reported Sunday. The deal could be worth as much as $32 million with incentives.
Hopkins took to social media on Sunday night to celebrate the move.
I always loved having haters and doubters but I appreciate it even more now. Titan up!!
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) July 17, 2023
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Former NFL general manager and current The 33rd Team analyst Mike Tannenbaum believes this signing signals what direction the Titans are going this season.
"This would signal that Tennessee is still in 'win now' mode and that (quarterback) Ryan Tannehill will likely be their opening day starter," Tannenbaum said. "Any thoughts of rebuilding with Will Levis goes on the back burner in signing a 31-year-old wide receiver in July."
Hopkins had visited with the Titans in mid-June, a few days before visiting with the New England Patriots.
"He is unequivocally one of the best wide receivers of his generation. A classic example of a guy who does not need to be open in order to make catches," said The 33rd Team's Andy Benoit. "He has strong hands which allows him to make a variety of catches away from his body. His reliability as a possession target outside the numbers will be huge. Tannehill can check to those throws when defenses overload the box for Derrick Henry."
The Arizona Cardinals released Hopkins in late May. The former All-Pro had two years remaining on his contract with large cap hits of $29.9 million in 2023 and $25.5 million in 2024, according to OverTheCap.
>>WATCH: Fantasy Reaction to Hopkins
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Cardinals did not designate this move as a post-June 1 cut. That means the Cardinals will clear $7.38 million in cap space this year, eat the remaining $22.6 million in dead money, and Hopkins will be off Arizona’s books next season.
Hopkins, 31, a four-time All-Pro – twice a first-teamer – registered 64 receptions, 717 yards and three touchdowns in nine games last season. The NFL suspended him for the first six games without pay for violating its Performance Enhancing Drug policy.
In 10 seasons — seven with Houston and three with Arizona — Hopkins has 853 receptions for 11,298 yards and 71 touchdowns. He is a five-time Pro Bowl pick.
The Titans are adding him to a group of weapons that include young and upcoming pass catchers like wide receiver Treylon Burks and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo. Hopkins is also reuniting with Titans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, who was the Texans' offensive coordinator in 2019.
Tennessee is hoping Hopkins can help them bounce back from a disappointing 2022 season. The Titans started 7-4 but lost seven straight games to close out the season, including a Week 18 "win and in" game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.