Finally, he has signed with a team. After weeks and months of anticipation, star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has found his next home.
The three-time All-Pro has signed with the Tennessee Titans. He did meet with them recently, and it went well enough to where the team felt comfortable to bring him on.
The contract is for two years, $26 million. It can go up to $32 million with incentives. But, how much of an impact will Hopkins bring to the Titans? Well, let’s get to it.
The Titans Needed A Wide Receiver. Like Badly.
This is not an overreaction. Have you seen this wide receiver group?
I’ll give Treylon Burks a pass since he was a rookie last year and was actually serviceable when called upon. But, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine? Kyle Philips? Chris -Moore? There was no way there were going into the 2023 regular season with this corps. They haven’t had a great receiver since A.J. Brown (who is much happier in Philadelphia).
Regardless of who is starting at quarterback this season, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable throwing to this group of guys before the signing of Hopkins. Even the tight-end room is underwhelming. Chigoziem Okonkwo was a surprise last season, but there is nothing beyond him.
Oh, sure there’s Derrick Henry. Give him the ball over 300 times again and pray he doesn’t get hurt, I dare you. I understand he’s one of the toughest running backs in the league. But, you can’t wear this guy out. He’s that valuable.
Enter DeAndre Hopkins The Savior
The 5x Pro Bowler has struggled to stay healthy these past couple of seasons. But, there’s no doubt he is a top-five wide receiver when he is on the field.
Let’s not forget how dominant he was in his time with the Houston Texans. From 2017-2019, the man finished no worst than 1,100 receiving yards and 96 receptions in a season. He was definitely a quarterback’s best friend.
Traded to the Cardinals in 2020, a full season saw him rack up 115 catches for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns. Oh, and don’t forget this grab.
? 2 years ago today: The Hail Murray
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) November 15, 2022
DeAndre Hopkins made an absurd catch in traffic to give the Cardinals (-150 ML) the win over the Bills on the last play of the gamepic.twitter.com/cyHHgVX62O
Unfortunately, the next two seasons weren’t the best. Hopkins suffered a torn MCL on December 13, 2021. It kept him out for the rest of the season and the first six games of 2022.
In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that “flared up” and kept him out for the last two weeks of the season.
There’s no question that DeAndre Hopkins is a complete wide receiver. He is an outstanding route runner, has solid speed, and will win one-on-one matchups with ease.
The Titans can depend on Hopkins to win contested catches and help move the chains. He will no doubt lead the team in catches, targets, and touchdowns. You can bet on it.
If he shows any flashes of his 2017-2020 self, the Titans may be a surprise contender in the AFC. With a solid running game and defense, watch out. Who’s going to be throwing the ball? I don’t know. Whoever it is, just know: you finally got a wide receiver by your side.
Thank you for reading! Make sure to visit Belly Up Sports every week and follow me on Twitter! My new podcast “Nate Ball” is coming out on Monday, July 17th, 2023. Be sure to look out for the first episode next week! We will cover everything in the NFL, so don’t miss out!
