DeAndre Hopkins needed the Tennessee Titans almost as badly as the Titans needed him.
A union that makes total sense was cemented Sunday when the free agent Hopkins and the Titans agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract that includes an additional $6 million in undisclosed incentives, according to NFL Network.
The deal is expected to be signed in the coming days and will mark the biggest stamp put on the roster thus far by first-year general manager Ran Carthon.
The Titans now have a three-time First-Team All-Pro to head up a receiver corps that features Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Phillips and other unproven youngsters.
Hopkins gets a shot to prove that he still is worthy of the money and targets associated with being a No. 1 receiver — even at 31 years old and coming off a season shortened by a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Hopkins reportedly was deciding between the Titans and the New England Patriots.
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The Arizona Cardinals tried to trade Hopkins fruitlessly before he was released on May 26.
Titans fans hope that Hopkins has more left in the tank than when they acquired future Hall of Famer Julio Jones in 2021, and Jones managed just 31 catches for 434 yards and one touchdown in 10 games.
Back then, the Titans at least had A.J. Brown to pick up the slack as a top receiver.
Ever since then-general manager Jon Robinson refused to extend Brown and traded him during the 2022 draft to the Eagles for the first-round pick that became Burks, the Titans have been looking for a receiver to balance out the strong rushing attack anchored by Derrick Henry.
Hopkins managed 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns in nine games last season after he returned from suspension.
The 79.7 receiving yards per game were the fifth-highest average during Hopkins’ 10-year career.
