DeAndre Hopkins Drawing Trade Interest

Although the Titans picked up their first win Monday night, they are 1-3 and in the first months of Brian Callahan‘s HC tenure. Callahan was not in Tennessee when the team won the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes last summer, and the accomplished wide receiver is in the second season of a two-year contract.

Naturally, Hopkins would be of interest to teams looking for help at the position. And interest is starting to pick up, with the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora reporting teams are starting to gather intel on Hopkins ahead of the trade deadline.

With Hopkins in his age-32 season, clubs are determining how much he has left to offer, La Canfora adds. Despite coming to Tennessee after an injury-prone Arizona tenure, Hopkins moved past 1,000 yards last season — his seventh year in four-digit territory. He accumulated 1,057 yards and scored seven touchdowns, helping Will Levis show flashes during an inconsistent rookie season. Thus far this season, the 12th-year veteran has 10 receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown. Though, Hopkins did miss several weeks due to a knee injury this summer.

The Titans may still be interested in having Hopkins help Levis develop, as the team — despite winning Monday with Mason Rudolph at the helm — is still committed to the second-year QB. Tennessee threw considerable resources into bolstering its offense to determine Levis’ long-term viability this offseason, adding the likes of Lloyd Cushenberry, JC Latham and Tony Pollard. This effort also included a big-ticket Calvin Ridley deal and a one-year Tyler Boyd accord. With underachieving former first-rounder Treylon Burks still rostered, the Titans have a Hopkins replacement ready — if they deem an offer worthwhile.

Hopkins would not qualify as a player who would draw a Davante Adams-level offer, and the Jaguars putting Christian Kirk on the table would also likely fetch a higher price (Kirk is 28 and is signed through 2025). Hopkins profiles as a classic rental. The Titans stood down on interest in rental pieces like Derrick Henry and Denico Autry last year, with the team also holding onto Hopkins despite interest emerging. But the Titans are still in rebuilding mode. Of course, it was later reported Carthon was overruled on moving Henry last year. Carthon denied this, but the second-year GM — post-Mike Vrabel — now has full control. It would make sense for them to listen, especially with Burks rostered.

The Chiefs and Bills discussed Hopkins with the Cardinals last year, but the contract the Ravens gave Odell Beckham Jr. dissuaded the former first-team All-Pro from being amenable to taking a pay cut to facilitate a trade. The Cardinals the released Hopkins. Despite offers from the Patriots and Chiefs, Hopkins wound up in Nashville. He said earlier this year he would like to finish his career there, but a reasonable trade proposal could change that.

It would stand to reason Buffalo and Kansas City would be interested, having done extensive work on Hopkins last year. The Bills did not appear finalists for Hopkins when his free agency concluded, but the Chiefs were. Kansas City also is almost definitely not acquiring Adams, as the Raiders are unlikely to entertain dealing their top receiver to the best team in their own division. Other suitors — like the Steelers and Ravens, to name two — figure to be interested. The teams who miss out on Adams will be looking into options like Hopkins, Kirk, Amari Cooper and Darius Slayton.

With the Titans in their bye week, Hopkins has more than $6MM left in base salary this season. The Titans could pay some of that to increase compensation, but that salary will factor into negotiations — if/once they end up taking place. While Adams will be the top WR piece in trade rumors before the November 5 deadline, Hopkins figures to become a key consolation prize.