Report: Titans pursuing DeAndre Hopkins more aggressively than Patriots

Apparently one suitor is being slightly more aggressive in the DeAndre Hopkins free agency sweepstakes.

According to Dov Kleiman, the Tennessee Titans have made the better offer to the veteran wide receiver, besting that of the New England Patriots. The two AFC franchises have been at the forefront of the sweepstakes, but it’s evident Tennessee is showing their interest a little greater.

𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: The #Titans have made WR DeAndre Hopkins a ‘More aggressive’ offer than the #Patriots, per @MikeReiss

Both teams have made contract offers to Hopkins.

More here:https://t.co/bHLAA71JY6 pic.twitter.com/YiIIq1sr8i

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 9, 2023

“Update: The #Titans have made WR DeAndre Hopkins a ‘More aggressive’ offer than the #Patriots, per @MikeReiss,” tweeted Kleiman. “Both teams have made contract offers to Hopkins.”

Regardless, both franchises could use Hopkins on their team. The AFC is as strong as ever, but it makes sense why Tennessee is being more aggressive than New England.

The Patriots inked JuJu Smith-Schuster to a free agent deal this offseason, and boast the better wide receiving corps of the two franchises. While the Titans are expecting last season’s first round pick Treylon Burks to come along in Year 2, Hopkins would severely help their offense.

Additionally, the void left behind by the AJ Brown trade was one of the reasons Tennessee disappointed in 2022, and it led to a change in the franchise’s front office. While Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry are returning for another season, the duo needs help getting the Titans back to where they want to go.

Time will tell what DeAndre Hopkins decides to do, but it’s obvious the interest is there, even if he’s getting up there in age. Nevertheless, if he does choose the Titans, he’ll immediately become Tennessee’s best pass-catching weapon.

DeAndre Hopkins reveals when he’ll retire from the NFL

Meanwhile, DeAndre Hopkins provided some insight on when he might retire from the NFL. But it didn’t exactly come with a timeline.

The star wide receiver took to Twitter recently, saying he plans to play until he doesn’t view himself as a 1,000-yard receiver. And that means he could be sticking around the league for several more years.

“I’ll retire from football when I’m not a 1k-yard receiver,” Hopkins said in a tweet, which has since been deleted. “With that said, I was on pace for 1,400 yards last year—one significant injury in 11 years. I might be playing till I’m 37 the way I feel.”

Hopkins enters the 2023 season at 31 years old. So, he could stick around for another seven seasons, if he feels strong enough to continue playing.

Last season, Hopkins appeared in nine games for the Arizona Cardinals, totaling 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns. He currently remains a free agent.

One of the few certainties in the NFL has been Hopkins’ status as a 1,000-yard receiver over the course of his career. He’s hit that mark six times in his career and totaled more than 800 yards in two other seasons.

Hopkins spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Houston Texans (2013-19). He’s played with the Cardinals the past three years. 

He’s been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL for a decade. Without question, he’ll be a major asset to whatever team he joins this offseason.