DeAndre Hopkins' three requirements for new NFL team as future finally decided
Former Arizona Cardinals star DeAndre Hopkins is set to sign for the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.
On May 26 it was confirmed that the five-time NFL Pro-Bowler would be leaving the Cardinals as a free agent. Despite the team attempting to trade Hopkins, the 31-year-old was released as a free agent.
A host of teams were linked with potentially signing Hopkins. Such teams included the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens.
Instead, Hopkins will be signing for the Titans and is reportedly set to be handed a two-year contract worth $26 million (£19.8m), potentially rising to $32 million (£24.4m) with added incentives.
A few days before it was announced that Hopkins was being released by the Cardinals, he explained the three requirements that he searches for in a team. "What I want is stable management upstairs," Hopkins told the on May 22.
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"I think that's something that I haven't really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston to being in Arizona; I've been through three to four GMs in my career. A QB who loves the game, a QB who brings everybody on board with him, pushes not just himself but people around him.
“I don't need a great QB -- I've done it with subpar QBs -- just a QB who loves the game like I do. And a great defence. I think defence wins championships. For me, that's it: great management, a QB who loves the game and a great defence."
With those things in mind, the Mirror takes a look at why Hopkins chose to sign with the Titans over the other reported interested teams, based on the aforementioned comments.
DeAndre Hopkins will sign a two-year contract with the Tennessee Titans (David Berding/Getty Images)‘Quarterback who loves the game’
The Titans are expected to have Ryan Tannehill as their starting quarterback for the 2023 regular season. But the franchise is well stocked in the QB room following the recent draft.
Will Levis was selected with the 33rd pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft in April. While talented and admired by the Titans, he is likely to be third choice quarterback in his rookie season in the NFL.
Malik Willis is getting ready for his second year in the NFL, after being drafted with the No. 86 overall pick in 2022. He is likely to be the back-up to Tannehill, but could make a case to get some time on the field if he impresses during practice.
Other teams linked with Hopkins including the Patriots have Mac Jones as their starting QB. It’s not clear as to how much of an interest the Patriots actually had in trying to sign Hopkins, but it seems that the wide receiver is keen to work with Tannehill.
‘Defence wins championships’
The Titans finished 7-10 in the 2022 regular season and second in the AFC South. Unfortunately, the team was not able to reach the post-season and will be looking for an improved year in 2023.
A key factor in that potential success will be the defence, and in that respect a lot will need to be improved upon. In 2022, the Titans were the 10th worst team in yards allowed for the opposition with an average of 351.6 per game, via .
Last season was the first time since 2018 that the Titans had failed to reach the playoffs. In 2019, the team lost in the AFC Championship game to the Kansas City Chiefs, so there is a relatively recent history of competing for a championship.
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But Hopkins will know that there is plenty of work to do, both in the offence and defence, if the Titans are to compete for a championship next season. He will be signing for two years and in that time he is likely to be expecting to be a play-off contender in each season at the very least.
‘Stable management’
Hopkins stated that he wanted “stable management” at whichever team he played for. And in the case of the Titans, he will get to work with a general manager who is in his first job in the position.
Ran Carthon was confirmed as the Titan’s new GM in January 2023. He replaced Jon Robinson, who had left his position a month earlier.
Robinson had been the GM of the Titans for seven years before losing his job. So the AFC South team has a proven track record of giving their general manager plenty of time to work their magic, which would fit into what Hopkins wants.
Before getting the job at the Titans, Carthon had worked for the San Francisco 49ers where he held the position of director of professional personnel. Carthon had been in that position for five years, and will now be busy working in his first role as a general manager in his career.
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