DeAndre Hopkins signs two-year NFL deal with Tennessee Titans

Five-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has finally ended his time in NFL free agency, signing a two-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. The deal has a base salary of $12 million per year, but with incentives the total sum could rise to $15 million.

After nine consecutive years of playing 15 games per season with the Houston Texans, Hopkins has only played 19 games over the past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Last year, however, Hopkins was suspended for six games, and in nine outings he caught 64 balls for 717 yards and three touchdowns.

If he went at that pace over 17 games, Hopkins would have finished with the third-most receptions across the entire league. While that is a flawed way of projecting, it goes to show that Hopkins is still a difference-maker.

He will join a wide-receiver room that is dying for his talent. Chris Moore had the most receiving touchdowns on the Titans prior to Hopkins’ arrival, and Moore only has eight career touchdowns.

It is expected Hopkins will be the number one target for Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee’s offense. Although the Tannehill has struggled in recent seasons, he hasn’t thrown to a player like Hopkins, whose proficiency to make contested catches should immediately improve the 34-year-old quarterback’s efficiency.

Hopkins’ arrival will also help sophomore wide receiver Treylon Burks. He was the Titans’ first-round pick last season, and while injuries held him back, Burks flashed the physical strengths that had him as one of the top prospects last season.

The acquisition of Hopkins creates some interesting options for Tennessee in NFL futures betting markets. The Titans won seven games in the regular season last year, yet they are paying as much as +105 to go over 7.5 this season with a star receiver added to the roster.

Also, the top NFL betting sites are offering around -108 for Hopkins to have more than 4.5 touchdowns in the season. Prior to last year, he had at least six touchdowns in five straight campaigns, and he is sure to be a key red-zone target given the lack of other quality receivers on Tennessee’s roster.

The Titans are paying +320 with Bovada to win the AFC South, where the Jacksonville Jaguars are red-hot -161.29 favorites to take out the division.

Tennessee are also +6600 outsiders in Super Bowl betting.

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