JULY 24: The Hopkins deal is now official, per a team announcement. Attention will turn to his individual performances given the threshold for his incentives, and his role in elevating Tennessee’s passing attack in their bid to become more productive through the air.
JULY 16, 3:24pm: Details of Hopkins’ incentives have come in, via Rapoport (Twitter link). The veteran will earn the maximum $3MM available in each of the two seasons of the pact if he records at least 95 catches, 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns. Six-figure incentives are available at lower thresholds in all three of those categories, giving Hopkins plenty of reasons to attempt a return to his All-Pro form.
1:04pm: The lengthy free agent process for DeAndre Hopkins is set to come to an end soon. The All-Pro wideout has agreed to a deal with the Titans, as first reported by Doug Kyed of A to Z Sports (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets that it is a two-year, $26MM deal with a maximum value of $32MM. He will earn a base salary of $12MM this year, with the potential to see $3MM more via incentives.
Kyed adds that the deal is expected to be finalized in the coming days. Presuming that takes place without issue, the Titans will have completed a signficant addition to their receiving corps as they look to take a needed step forward in the passing game in 2023. Hopkins (who was thought to be seeking the $15MM per year Odell Beckham Jr. received from the Ravens this offseason) had been on the open market since his release from the Cardinals in late May, setting up a high-profile summer free agency. 
The 31-year-old floated the names of a number of young quarterbacks he would be interested in playing with even before his time in Arizona officially came to an end, and AFC powers Buffalo and Kansas City were frequently linked to him. Hopkins was reportedly waiting for the Chiefs to free up cap space via a Chris Jones extension, while the Bills remained on the radar. It was clear the latter team would not be willing to engage in a bidding war to land him, however. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes (via Twitter) that Kansas City remained in touch, but their limited cap space made them a non-player in this situation.
Hopkins ultimately visited only two teams – the Patriots and Titans – before patiently waiting to see how his market developed. Both New England and Tennessee represented somewhat surprising destinations given his public affinity for quarterbacks other than Mac Jones and Ryan Tannehill, but each team was sufficiently impressed after his visits to make an offer. As of earlier this month, the Titans remained confident in their ability to acquire the five-time Pro Bowler.
The news marks a return to the AFC South for Hopkins, who spent the first seven years of his career in Houston. He recorded five 1,000-yard seasons during that span, but managed to replicate that feat only once in his three Cardinals campaigns. Injuries and a PED suspension cost him time over the past two seasons, but his production (64 catches, 717 yards) in nine games last season demonstrated his continued ability to operate as a N0. 1 receiver. He will look to assume that role in Tennessee, a team which lacks proven contributors elsewhere in its pass-catching corps.
2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks had a lackluster rookie season as the Titans struggled to find production through the air at the start of the post A.J. Brown era. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Phillips and Chris Moore represent the other main options on the WR depth chart, one which now has far more pedigree with Hopkins in place. His presence should help Tannehill in a 2023 season filled with questions about his future with the team.
Hopkins will also be reunited with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, after the pair spent time together with the Texans. Expectations will be high for the former given his decision to accept the most lucrative offer made, and for the Titans as they look to return to the postseason. New general manager Ran Carthon‘s first major move on the open market has certainly boosted the team’s chances of doing so.
Waste of money. Titans aren’t a WR short of winning. But it’s not my money.
Figured Tennessee would overpay after giving AJ Brown away
So basically teams just shouldn’t try to win at all? DHop definitely makes them a better team and helps fix a weakness. Tennessee wasn’t far away from the playoffs last season either. Literally had to start Joshua Dobbs in a do or die game after he’d been there 2 weeks.
Tenn lost their last 6-7 games in a row last year. Not as close as you think.
And yes, teams rebuilding should go for young guys on cheaper deals. They have to churn the roster, not go for 30+ year olds.
Do you think Hop brings them the division title? I don’t.
They started losing after Tannehil got hurt. Healthy QB and Jacksonville doesn’t even come close to winning that division last year. So yes, running it back and adding DHop should net them the AFC South
We’ll see. But there’s a reason they drafted QB’s in back to back seasons as well.
Explain getting boat raced by the Bills? The Titans were 02 to start the season. Then lost to every good team it played, Chiefs, Bengals, Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars x2. Lol. They even lost to the joke Texans. They still have a bottom 5 Oline and a mediocre QB. If you want to throw down some money on the titans winning the south, let me know.
This is the NFL. Every season teams surprise us. Who knows?
DHop (still) has the best receiving ‘hands’ around, like stick-em !
No argument on his skills. But does he bring a division title to Tenn? I don’t see it.
JAX takes that division easy
Sure he makes them better, but their OL and D won’t be as good this year. Plus the QB is aging and injury prone. I’m sure DHop knows this too.
I once had a really nice sports car, newest model and decided to give it away. I then realized my mistake; it was my only car, and so I decided I’d better correct this mistake by purchasing another car, older, less sporty and possibly less reliable due to the higher mileage.
you. must have not watched DHop play the last couple of year. His hand are the mot reliable in the league.
I’d rephrase this and say you traded in a nice. ssportsscar for an old car that turned over every time and got you from. point. A-B without issues. might not be new but. its new to y out because you haven’t been used to that kind. of relniabliliy.
For those not in a hurry to get anywhere, there is always public transit.
I get chasing the guaranteed money as would I….but the Chiefs seemed like the logical choice for competing.
They currently don’t have the cap room to come anywhere close to what Tenn just paid. Not until Chris Jones contract is done and even then I’m not sure if it was feasible. DHop made it pretty clear from the beginning he was about the most money and wasn’t going to take much of a discount to get a ring.
The Chiefs had zero interest in The Headache Known as Hopkins…. They drafted Skyy Moore and strategically acclimated him to the offense and playing in the NFL. He is going to the Pro Bowl if he stays healthy.
If Hopkins makes all of his incentives he will be on point with Hunter Renfrow, OBJ, and Cortland Sutton in earnings. Renfrow needs some love.
What has made D-Hop a headache may I ask? Because he was traded for an aging overpaid RB? Because he got a 6 game pop for PEDs and then continued to come out on a 1300 yard pace with Colt McCoy, Trace McSorely, and David Blough?
BTW I took a picture of this, for when Skyy Moore is the 4th best WR and still 100 players in between him & a pro bowl…
No offense meant, but the Chiefs definitely had a lot more than zero interest.
I took a picture too. 2023: Skyy Moore > DeAndre Hopkins. Wondering why he caved so early; training camp isn’t starting yet, so no injured player to replace; no other team came forward to offer a contract; only got 12 mm, maybe got a little nervous??
I had it down to titans or lions and like I said it makes sense. He’s WR#1 unless Burks can have an amazing jump in production this year. Team friendly deal and Dhop gets paid. It’s a win win win imo
I thought that Detroit would have been an interesting, if temporary, choice. I really thought that between cap space, scheme, and available role that New England was the best spot. The “elite” teams did not have enough space, but the second tier teams like Detroit and Tennessee (possibly New England, but possibly not) were really the only ones who could have realistically considered a Hopkins deal. Cook may be the next piece to fall now, considering that any team interested in Hopkins won’t have to allocate space for that theoretical deal.
Cook should have been signed by now
What a waste of a still talented player
$ over Winning. Respect it, can’t say I’d turn down that money at his age, either.
You could’ve been a Chief and got a ring like JuJu did. That’s never happening in Tennessee. You’re only there for money and not to win. Too bad but have fun with your big bucks.
Why shouldn’t he? NFL players only get a few chances at contracts.
You sound mad that he didn’t pick the Chiefs.
In other words, he has no interest in winning. He just wants to get paid.
Run first offense, d hop will be lucky to have 750-800 yards and 5-6 TD, or you gonna burn your home grown talent Derrick Henry to the point he wants out regardless and your offense is not relying on a 32 old pass catcher who will need to learn a new playbook without Henry? Terrible decision on his part and the titans. There legit no closer to a ring with this signing it’s gonna end up wasted cap space.
How is signing a 2 year 26 million deal a terrible desicion on his part? Wish I could make those kind of terrible desicions.
Bc he coulda gone xyz 1 year prove it in a passing offense had a killer year and gotten a far better contract, i get its football n injuries happen and production decreases with age. So either he thinks he’s basically done n this is his last contract or he opted to avoid another big pay day for whatever reason.
At 31 I’m thinking this is his last shot fir a big contract. Pretty tough to turn that kinda money down.
There are no “prove it” deals for a WR whose 31.
AMEN !!
Tired of this topic.
95 catches, 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns?
No way that happens, unless new OC Tim Kelly is throwing the run-first mantra out the door. The OC is gone, the GM is gone, maybe just maybe the Titans have realized that running on every down is not the way to win. Perhaps they start building a team that can throw the ball down the field and put some points on the board.
If so say bye to Henry and while that could work while drafting an RB they better bet on tanking or getting very lucky in the draft/FA
He should send Beckham some money. That crazy contract Baltimore gave him helped Hopkins get this money
Everyone writing the titans off. 1 season removed from #1 in the AFC. O-Line was bottom tier that year as well. Also, their defense is stacked. Especially with Landry coming back. They are going to be a sneaky problem. Not to mention, they took the super bowl champs to Overtime with Malik Willis
oooooo overtime!
Over pay for an aging cranky WR. It’s hilarious that he was sooooooooo interested in getting to a team that is going to win and yet he took the most money offered! Lol, winning is #1 until its not, the almighty dollar bill reigns Supreme!
There were not a lot of attractive offers coming from winning teams. It’s not like it was a close thing.
Maybe next season it will work out when Levis is the guy, other than that he was clearly all about the $
Levis has a big arm and likes to throw downfield. His accuracy, however, needs work, as does his decision making, and that was on a college level. Now, I’m not saying that he will not improve either of those in the NFL, but it will likely take some time. Hopkins, who at one point fairly recently was the best in the league at those fifty-fifty balls, is a bit older than when he was the jump ball king.
However, you have to think that even an aged Hopkins would be good for a few of those throws. It would be a short window to take advantage of for Levis, and their careers didn’t exactly line up well, but that would have been a good fit skillset wise a few years ago. It may help next year, we’ll see. For now, Tannehill is certainly the best option, and did have a strong arm himself in recent years past. These two years I think will primarily be a question of “who’s still got it” between Hopkins and Tannehill.
After reading every comment – who among the many would turn down the money offered, knowing teams seldom extend or pay ‘over 30’ WRs?
Hopkins is a very good clutch receiver that makes QBs look good. Yes he’s not the same guy that was in Houston. Yes Titans aren’t expected to hit the SB. BUT the AFC south doesn’t have huge expectations overall and realistically any of the 4 could make it to the ‘dance’, just have to get there and Hop is a good tool for that possibility.
It will be interesting to see if this ramps up trade interest for Derrick Henry.
I don’t think that it does. Henry has started to experience injury after an impressive and frankly odds defying start to his illustrious career. He’s a big back who’s seen a lot of yardage and carries, and now has to contend with seventeen game season.
Hopkins does not move the needle far enough to a passing offense to take the focus off Henry as its focal point. Tennessee really needs a second back to emerge more than anything right now. Hopkins figures to be a part of the offense more than it’s focus, and most franchises are reluctant to build a new offensive philosophy around an aged receiver and aged QB, even with how long QBs can be effective in today’s NFL.
This is a big add in a division that is very much there for the taking.
If you ever had a doubt how overrated Kyler Murray is, Nuke choose Ryan Tannehill lol
Not much of a choice when your only other option was Mac Jones and the culture of Bill Belicheat. Yes, Vrabel is a graduate but that’s not the same as the original.
Doesn’t anyone think if the Chiefs really, really wanted him, they would have moved on creating cap room a lot more quickly? I mean, yes, they have to make sure the restructures fit in but if you, as a team, have decided this is the guy we need to have to put us over the top, you would do what you have to in order to get it done. Or, maybe, they’re fairly smart and decided that we don’t need the selfish headache because we have already figured out how to do with what we have at WR and a 7th round rookie RB.
The Chiefs are already at the top with the weapons, QB, and play caller they have. Andy Reid finds a way to get it done, he is the best coach in football.
I think Hopkins would have been a nice addition, but the way this offense switches from 1 week to the next is nothing less than amazing. Reid will highlight a guy one week and the next week he will have the guy basically phased out of the game plan. It’s great how he manipulates defenses every week by rotating his weapons. It makes it very difficult to game plan against them. There is never a consistent #1 WR week to week besides TE Travis Kelce now that Tyreek Hill is gone. I think Mahomes and Reid like the WR room they currently have.
Waste of time for D-hop. Go to Tennessee, finish in 3rd with a crappy QB, repeat next year.
I beleive the Titans in the next 2 years will lose Tannehill, Henry, Hopkins and Byrd. close to 80 million coming off the books
I agree. The question for me is whether the Titans will get anything of significance in return for their past stars.
Kind of glad that Kansas City didn’t sign him. Not because of some of the reasons some people say (he is a headache, injury prone, a prima donna)
While he does still have the ability to make plays, we need to get our younger guys more time and signing Hopkins would displace one or more of them.
I’m looking forward to see how our WR group performs this season.
Hope there is a ROID clause in this contract