Will DeAndre Hopkins Make the Titans Better?

The Tennessee Titans have seemed to be a struggling franchise as of late, ending last season with a 30th ranked offense averaging just shy of 300 yds per game. They have also been plagued by bad decisions, losing WR AJ Brown to the Eagles and drafting Malik Willis, a quarterback that still has yet to prove his worth to the NFL. It seems as though RB Derrick Henry is the exception in keeping this team relevant in an AFC South Division that is currently in the rebuilding phase. Can the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins and 2023 QB draft pick Will Levis be the secret to their success in the upcoming season?

There is no question that Hopkins is one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL, and after last season, it is obvious the Titans are desperate in that position. Hopkins is joining the Titans after a time with the Arizona Cardinals, a team that was surrounded with hype and much speculation as a top 5 NFL team. We all saw how that played out as the Cardinals won just 4 games and finished last in the NFC West division. The big question for the Titans is whether or not they have the resources that will contribute to DeAndre Hopkins’ ability to be an effective offensive weapon. With an offensive line in a rebuilding phase, and the retirement of veteran Taylor Lewan, there is much speculation around how much success this offensive line will have coming into the 2023 season. There is also the question of who the starting quarterback will be after head coach Mike Vrabel expressed that Tannehill, Willis, and Levis will all be competing for the starting role.

With many question marks surrounding the Titans Organization for the upcoming season, we can hardly predict how DeAndre Hopkins will fare as a Titan. We still have yet to see what Will Levis will bring to the table as an NFL quarterback. Levis, at 6’4” 229 pounds has displayed an elite level of athleticism and ability to be a great pocket passer with tremendous mobility and arguably turning the University of Kentucky into a football powerhouse in the SEC. The question is why he was drafted so late after much speculation as one of the best QB’s in the draft. Can Will Levis win the starting role at Tennessee and turn this struggling offense around? It seems we have seen the best and the worst from QB Ryan Tannehill as he seems to be just another average quarterback with his remaining years in the NFL. If the Titans can get the offensive line situation worked out, we could potentially see Will Levis’ ability put on full display behind center. With an opposing defense almost forced to key on RB Derrick Henry most of the time, Levis and his athletic skill and mobility could potentially see a passing game open up creating space for DeAndre Hopkins and his elite route running capability.

Even with many questions surrounding the franchise, there is no question the Titans have the talent to be contenders especially in a division that is rebuilding. Winning the AFC South division seems to be well in reach for the Titans, and maybe with a little luck in the post-season, we may be in for a surprise in the AFC conference in 2023.