The Tennessee Titans have a long history of signing veteran wideouts on the back end of their careers, so to hear that they’re on the verge of signing DeAndre Hopkins is far from a surprise.
They were one of the strongest suitors in their pursuit over the past couple of months, and it seemed like it was either them or the New England Patriots.
Notably, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that he eventually chose the Titans because they could offer him the most money.
Patriots stayed in consistent contact with DeAndre Hopkins’ camp through free agency process, but their base financial package wasn’t in the same ballpark as what Titans offered. The good vibes between N.E. and Hopkins from his team visit never translated to a workable deal
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 16, 2023
Per Fowler, Hopkins and the Patriots did have ‘good vibes,’ yet the Patriots couldn’t offer him anything near the kind of money he got in Nashville.
Hopkins could make up to $15 million in his first year with the Titans alone, and he could make up to $26 million total over two years, which is obviously way more than most teams were willing to pay for the 31-year-old’s services.
The former Houston Texans star comes with ten years of experience and has been one of the most proficient pass-catchers since he entered the league, but he also comes with some baggage.
He’s dealt with injuries, a PED-related suspension, and there have been rumors about his character often rubbing people the wrong way.
Also, this deal left some people wondering why they simply didn’t pay A.J. Brown, who’s obviously way younger than Hopkins.
Even so, this could end up being the ultimate low-risk/high-reward pickup for Mike Vrabel’s team, as the veteran wideout claims he’s still an elite player in this league.
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Former NFL QB Reacts To The Titans Signing DeAndre Hopkins
