Breaking Down DeAndre Hopkins' Contract Incentives and How He Can Reach Them
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have pulled off the move of the NFL summer by landing elite wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins will sign a two-year deal worth $26 million, but with incentives, can climb all the way to $32 million over those two seasons.
The question is, how do these incentives work and what would Hopkins need to do to earn that extra money. The answer is with statistical production. If Hopkins puts up elite numbers, he will get every penny he can out of the Titans.
The total extra Hopkins can make each year is $3 million, but that $3 million is broken up into three separate $1 million categories. Catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. Take a look at the visual below from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
As you can see, the incentive based pay isn't a some or none situation. Hopkins can earn some extra money by getting to a low benchmark, but that can increase as his production increases.
If Hopkins gets to or eclipses 95 catches, 1050 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, he will earn the full additional $3 million. That would be the same case for 2023 and 2024. While it would cost the Titans more if Hopkins hit them, the trade off for that level of production would be something the Titans would surely welcome.
There is some skepticism with Hopkins and whether he can still play at an elite level. The Titans have surely seen their fair share of wide receivers who were past their prime, so some concern if fair, but having the contract be incentive-based is a very smart move for the Titans.
Now, even if Hopkins disappoints, the Titans will only be paying a very manageable salary to Hopkins that is just barely above what the New York Jets paid to Corey Davis, two years ago. DeAndre Hopkins for Corey Davis money? Hard to beat that even if Hopkins lands in the middle of these statistical brackets.
Hopkins, even if he hits the maximum incentives, will certainly be worth the money. The Titans need that production more than they need the money at this point with the state of the receiver room without Hopkins. By any point of view, this is a home-run move for the Titans and first-time general manager Ran Carthon.
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