DeAndre Hopkins to Visit Tennessee Titans

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has determined his first free agent visit as he looks for his team for the 2023 season.

On another day when Deshaun Watson is being asked about a potential reunion with DeAndre Hopkins, the free agent receiver has decided that his first free agent visit will be with the Tennessee Titans according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The visit is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Free-agent WR DeAndre Hopkins is slated to fly to Nashville on Sunday for a visit with the #Titans, per sources.

D-Hop and Mike Vrabel were together in Houston. Now Vrabel’s team gets the first visit with Hopkins, the five-time Pro Bowl pick released by Arizona last month. pic.twitter.com/UUyUjLqa7Z

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 7, 2023

There are some reasons the visit makes sense. The Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was on coaching staff of the Houston Texans when Hopkins was there, so the two are familiar. The Titans also have one of the worst sets of wide receivers in the NFL this year, so Hopkins could step in and be their top target.

The team likes what they have in second-year receiver Treylon Burks and tight end Chig Okonkwo, but they need help there. Ryan Tannehill is still there as the team's quarterback and Hopkins would give him a bonafide target that could allow Burks and Okonkwo to be used in a role they might be more comfortable in their second year.

The Titans have some cap space, reportedly at a little over $8.3 million. Hopkins wants to get paid and the Titans might be able to accommodate him more than teams like the Buffalo Bills or the Kansas City Chiefs currently.

The Titans might look they are headed for a rebuild as illustrated by seven straight losses to end last season, but adding Hopkins would be an attempt to try to remain competitive.

Maybe there's a path where the Titans can be a factor in the AFC, but the state of the AFC as a whole suggests that they are going to struggle this year. How attractive of an option is that for Hopkins, who has been accused of quitting on the Arizona Cardinals last season.

If they do sign Hopkins, the Browns and Watson would face the Titans week three of this season. This is the only visit that has been announced at this point, but this is not expected to be a process that resolves quickly. Hopkins is only really focused on getting onto a team in time for training camp, so he's got another six weeks to try to figure out the best situation.