I still remember DeAndre Hopkins during his collegiate days at Clemson. Along with Quarterback Tahj Boyd and fellow Wide Receiver Sammy Watkins, they formed one of the most prolific passing offenses in college football and broke many records together as a trio. DeAndre decided to forgo his senior season and enter his name in the NFL Draft. In 2013, the Houston Texans selected the Wide Receiver with the 27th overall pick in the draft and he was the second receiver selected that year behind Tavon Austin who went to the Rams. The Texans also made DeAndre the second receiver to be drafted by the franchise in the first round, Andre Johnson was the first. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Texans before shockingly being traded to the Arizona Cardinals. After three seasons in Arizona, the Cardinals announced they were releasing DeAndre. There were plenty of teams who could use the services of a veteran. Today, it was announced that he signed with the Tennessee Titans which means he’s back in the AFC South.
When he’s healthy, he’s still one of the best in the league. At one time, many, myself included, thought he was the best Wide Receiver in the league, and he was showing it on a weekly basis. In today’s game, the receivers are very finesse meaning they want to beat you with moves. DeAndre is the opposite of that because he’s a very physical receiver that initiates the contact and not many receivers do that these days. I’ve always loved his football IQ and ball skills. The catch radius is wide, and he plays with the confidence that he can catch everything thrown in his direction. DeAndre’s 50/50 ball mentality is extraordinary and when the ball is in the air, he’s going to get it and won’t let the ball find him. Even if the football is slightly underthrown or even a little overthrown, he finds a way to make a play on the ball. DeAndre is a fluid receiver off the release at the line of scrimmage with a strong consistency to run the route tree. I’ve always been impressed with his body control and how he’s able to position himself to remain in bounds after catching the ball. When he sees one-on-one opportunities, he takes advantage of them and makes a defense pay. This is a playmaker with great hands and a strong nose for the ball. He plays with the mindset of a Defensive Back, and I say that because of the way he attacks the ball when he’s going in the air to get it.
The Titans came out of left field in signing the veteran receiver. I thought Buffalo or Kansas City would have gone after him. I can understand why the Titans signed him because they were awful at Wide Receiver last season after they traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles and never regrouped after that. DeAndre at least gives them a true number one option on the perimeter. I also think he signed with Tennessee was to get back at the Houston Texans. The Titans and Texans are both in the same division and face each other two times a season. This should be interesting.
