Posted on: July 17, 2023, 11:21h. 

Last updated on: July 17, 2023, 11:21h.

DeAndre Hopkins still believes he has a lot of football left in him, and the Tennessee Titans agree. The Titans will acquire the All-Pro wide receiver, making Hopkins their first major free agent signing this offseason.

Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network reported that the Titans will offer Hopkins a two-year contract potentially worth $32 million with incentives. In 2023, Hopkins will earn a base salary of $12 million, plus $3 million in incentives.

Hopkins was a standout wide receiver at Clemson, and the Houston Texans selected him with a late first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

During his time with the Texans, Hopkins earned All-Pro honors five times and was named to the Pro Bowl five times.

In the 2017 season, Hopkins led the NFL in touchdown receptions with 13 in 15 games. He also had 11 or more touchdowns in three different seasons with the Texans.

Throughout his 10 seasons in the NFL, Hopkins caught 71 touchdowns and 853 receptions.

The New England Patriots were the favorites to sign Hopkins in free agency after hosting him for a visit. However, the Titans outbid everyone, including the Patriots.

Cardinals Cut Hopkins in May

Hopkins spent seven seasons with the Texans before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. The trade was widely regarded as one of the most lopsided in NFL history, with the Cardinals receiving Hopkins and a fourth-round pick in exchange for running back David Johnson, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. This trade was met with disappointment from fans in Houston, who felt their beloved Texans were robbed by the Cardinals. Johnson only scored four touchdowns in 25 games with the Texans and started in only 16 games during his two-season stint in Houston.

Hopkins didn’t put up huge numbers with the Cardinals, appearing in only 35 games in three seasons. He missed seven games in 2021 due to a torn MCL knee injury and missed the beginning of the 2022 season while serving a six-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Throughout his time with the Cardinals, Hopkins caught 221 passes for 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 12.2 yards per catch with the Cardinals, compared to 13.6 with the Texans.

Last season, in nine games, Hopkins caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinals had a 4-13 record in 2022 and lost their last seven games of the season.

Hopkins was the subject of trade rumors after the season ended, but the Cardinals decided to cut him in May for financial reasons. If the Cardinals had kept Hopkins, they would have incurred a $30.75 million cap hit. By cutting him instead of trading him, the Cardinals missed out on acquiring draft capital or any other players.

Titans Make Huge Upgrade with Hopkins

The Titans were one of the worst passing teams in the NFL last season, ranking 29th out of 32 teams with an average of only 171.4 receiving yards per game.

Last season, the Titans had only two instances in which one of their wide receivers caught more than 100 yards in a single game. Hopkins achieved that feat in just nine games with the Cardinals.

Despite rumors of the Titans potentially trading star running back Derrick Henry, all signs indicate that the Titans plan to keep him for now.

With the addition of Hopkins, the Titans now have two of the most formidable offensive weapons in the NFL. Henry excels on the ground, while Hopkins dominates in the air. Hopkins recently posted a photo of himself and Henry on his Instagram account.

“I always loved having haters and doubters, but I appreciate it even more now. Titan up!!” Hopkins added on his Twitter feed.

Last season, the Titans had a record of 7-10 but finished in second place in the AFC South. Oddsmakers set the Titans’ win total for the upcoming season at 7.5 over/under.

DraftKings has the Titans at +250 odds to make the playoffs in a postseason prop bet, while they have -300 odds to miss the playoffs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the favorites to win the AFC South with -155 odds, followed by the Titans (+350), Indianapolis Colts (+600), and Texans (+800).

On the futures board, the Titans have +5500 odds to win the AFC Championship, making them the third-lowest team on the list.

The Titans are considered a long shot at +8000 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII. The Cardinals have the lowest odds of winning the Super Bowl at +20000.