The signing of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was a move that was universally embraced by Tennessee Titans fans.
The team went from having arguably the most underwhelming wide receivers room in the NFL to one that suddenly has loads of potential with Hopkins and Treylon Burks atop the depth chart.
Buy Titans TicketsHowever, you honestly have to be delusional to think the Titans were ever his first choice. That’s not a shot at the team, it’s just the reality of his situation at this point of his career.
While many of us assumed his preferred destinations were teams such as the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, it seems as if Hopkins was intrigued by other options, as well.
And more specifically, big-market teams who had a lot of success last year, as well as one team down in Detroit that has loads of potential and hype heading into 2023
During a recent interview with GQ Sports’ Clay Skipper, Hopkins admitted that he reached out to the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions during free agency because they were on his list.
Yet, to his own surprise, he never got a call back from any of them, which has left a chip on his shoulder.
“There were some teams that I had on my list that I gave them calls and they didn’t give a call back,” he said. “Detroit Lions, they didn’t want me. Dallas Cowboys didn’t want me. Giants didn’t want me… Who else ain’t want me? San Fran ain’t want me.”
“I’m very grateful for where I am, I think I made the best decision,” he added. “But when you’re a player and some people feel like they’re great without you, and then you see what they have on paper, or you see what they do, you mark those games down, as a competitor. I can’t wait to play’ em and, honestly, try my best to crush they ass.”
Their loss is the Titans’ gain, because Hopkins eventually chose Tennessee, and he has been everything the team could’ve ever hoped for since he arrived.
“Man, [expletive], you ask the people around this building, since I been here, what they got?” DHop says. “That’s a wolf. Not a dog. Wolves eat dogs. You feel me? They got a wolf.”
He certainly isn’t lying. The Clemson product has routinely garnered praise from his teammates and coaches, many of whom proclaim that he looks like the elite player he has always been.
#Titans QB Ryan Tannehill praised new WR DeAndre Hopkins for his work in camp thus far ⬇️
“He looks like vintage Hopkins” 💪 pic.twitter.com/oZ2DMpJcjD
— Drew’s NFL (@drews_NFL) August 8, 2023
More importantly, he’s been out there with his teammates almost every single time they go out on the practice field.
This may not seem like much, but the narrative surrounding DHop was that he didn’t prioritize practicing, instead choosing to essentially bank on his ridiculous talent rather than putting the work in.
I was told he doesn’t practice… https://t.co/PhvKxr2pZr
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) July 28, 2023
Needless to say, that narrative couldn’t have been more false since he’s put on the two-tone blue.
Regardless of how he landed in Tennessee, Hopkins appears to be happy with his decision to bet on the likes of Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, Tim Kelly, and Mike Vrabel.
DeAndre Hopkins’ numbers the last time he was in Tim Kelly’s offense (2019) vs. his most recent numbers (2022) when he missed half the season with a suspension.
As long as DHop is out there, he’s still dominating.#Titans pic.twitter.com/LFRcu3l82U
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) June 9, 2023
It didn’t take Hopkins long to see what makes Vrabel such a great coach, either.
“I got here, he called me out in a team meeting about a play that I f—– up on,” said Hopkins. “I was like, damn, it’s only been one day…this is a different standard of football…this is how you win”.
While the Titans may not have been his first choice, they ultimately landed the future Hall of Famer anyway and that’s all that matters because they now have what seems like the most inspired version of DHop that we’ve seen in quite some time, if not ever.
