The NFL’s trade market has roared to life this week, with Davante Adams and Amari Cooper both finding new homes in exchange Day 2 draft capital.
Teams have already been circling another Pro Bowl receiver – the Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins – though neither Tennessee nor its veteran wideout seem interested in a trade, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Hopkins is set to hit free agency after this season, but he is not in a hurry to get out of Tennessee despite a losing season and an uneven quarterback situation. The former All-Pro said this offseason he wanted to finish his career in Nashville and, as of now, this situation does not look to have changed.
That said, Hopkins might be able to force his way out of Tennessee like Adams did in Las Vegas; however, Titans ownership has been resistant to trading star players in the recent past. The team did not unload Derrick Henry despite interest, with Ran Carthon reportedly overruled on moving the standout running back at the deadline.
The second-year Tennessee GM denied ownership intervened on a deal (almost definitely with the Ravens), and the Titans did move on from former All-Pro Kevin Byard last year. But they held onto Henry and D-lineman Denico Autry despite struggling around the deadline last year. Autry joined Henry in leaving in free agency this offseason. Interest came in for Hopkins last year as well, but the Titans — who had signed him to a two-year, $26MM deal — stood pat, keeping the veteran wideout around to help Will Levis‘ development.
The number of interested teams may also have dwindled after the Jets and the Bills landed their desired targets. The Chiefs pursued Hopkins during free agency in 2023, after trade negotiations with the Cardinals broke down, and their need for a receiver has only grown as the season has progressed. The Steelers have also been connected to nearly every available receiver this year, though no reports have emerged about any surefire interest in Hopkins. Players like Diontae Johnson, Christian Kirk and Mike Williams are other targets receiver-needy teams can pursue — if the Titans hang onto Hopkins once again.
It is also unrealistic to expect Hopkins to net the Titans as much compensation as the Raiders and Browns received for their star wideouts. Hopkins is coming off a 1,000-yard season in 2023, the seventh of his career, but injuries limited him to 19 games and 1,289 yards across 2021 and 2022. He has just 14 catches for 175 yards this year, on track for the lowest per-game averages of his career.
If Hopkins does garner significant trade interest in the coming weeks, the Titans should at least consider dealing the 32-year-old as they rebuild, either around Levis or a new quarterback. Hopkins is a friendly veteran target, but it is unlikely he factors into the team’s long-term outlook — especially with a new coaching staff being hired this year.