DeAndre Hopkins spurns Chiefs, Bills to sign with surprise AFC contender

DeAndre Hopkins had rumored interest in many contenders this offseason, but in the end chose to sign with the Tennessee Titans in a surprising choice.

Don’t get me wrong, the Titans are an AFC South contender. Heck, they should compete with Jacksonville Jaguars for the division crown if all goes well this season. Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry are no slouches, and Mike Vrabel is a solid NFL head coach.

However, it would be a shocker to see the Titans, of all teams, defeat the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals or even Buffalo Bills. Hopkins considered two of those teams, and even took a visit to Buffalo. It didn’t matter.

Hopkins claimed to prioritize winning. He’ll surely have some semblance of regular-season success in Tennessee. A Super Bowl feels unlikely even with the offensive core Tennessee has in place.

Did DeAndre Hopkins make the right choice?

Hopkins should receive plenty of targets and a plump salary in Tennessee, all the while playing for a team which has postseason aspirations. The fit makes sense, as Hopkins should slide right alongside Treylon Burks. If anything, Hopkins will be the undisputed No. 1 wide receiver in Nashville when training camp starts. If that is what Hopkins truly values, then it’s tough to blame him.

The Patriots, Bills and Chiefs all offered a chance to win, as well. Tennessee arguably has the easiest path to the postseason, as beyond the Jaguars, there isn’t much competition within their own division. Kansas City is the defending Super Bowl champions, but didn’t have the necessary funds to sign Hopkins to the contract he wanted.

Hopkins also seemed to dismiss the Bills and Patriots over time. In New England, he would’ve been in a very similar position to Tennessee, while in Buffalo he could have played a major role alongside Stefon Diggs.