Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans for his first free agent visit. Titans coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that the team will be hosting Hopkins early next week. Vrabel expressed his desire to bring in players who want to be a part of the team, and if Hopkins fits that bill, the team will move on to the next step. Vrabel previously coached Hopkins while he was the linebackers coach and later the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans. During Hopkins’ 2019 season, he caught 104 passes for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns while Titans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly was calling plays for the Texans.
The Cardinals Release Hopkins
The Arizona Cardinals released Hopkins on May 26th following the 2022 season. Hopkins’ future with the team had been in doubt due to his team-high $30.75 million cap hit, which ranked the highest among wide receivers in the NFL and seventh overall. During the 2021 season, Hopkins missed the first six games due to a suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. Despite this, he ended the season with 64 receptions for 717 yards and three touchdowns in just nine games.
Titans’ Wide Receiver Group in Need of Veteran Leadership
The Titans’ wide receiver group struggled last season, with only two 100-yard receiving games. Adding a veteran wide receiver like Hopkins, who just turned 31 years old, could provide valuable leadership to the relatively young group. Second-year receiver Treylon Burks is expected to be the team’s number one receiver, and he believes that Hopkins would be an excellent mentor. Burks has been a fan of Hopkins since he was younger and admires his on-field abilities. The Titans currently have around $8 million in cap space, so they would need to free up some money if they were to sign Hopkins.
The Tennessee Titans are set to host former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for his first free agent visit. With the Titans’ wide receiver group in need of veteran leadership, Hopkins’ experience and on-field abilities could be a valuable addition to the team. However, the team would need to free up some cap space if they were to sign Hopkins.
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