Even in a dead part of the NFL 2023 offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers are keeping track of everything that is happening around the league. With very limited action happening in the media, any little piece of news will easily get to the Steelers, as well as everyone, especially when the current top free agent finally gets signed. That is exactly what happened, and the Steelers will be looking to make a game plan to face their new challenger in the middle of the season. One of their opponents just got a little more difficult to play against.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins (#10) celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown. | Photo Credit: Getty Images / Norm Hall
The Tennessee Titans added to a very weak receiver group with a former division rival of theirs. The Titans inked DeAndre Hopkins to a two-year deal worth $26 million, with up to $32 million in total incentives and bonuses. He will most likely become the WR1 immediately in Tennessee, as their other options are very limited, including a struggling first-round pick in Treylon Burks and a rookie seventh-round pick in Colton Dowell.
The #Titans are giving star WR DeAndre Hopkins a 2-year, $26M deal worth up to $32M with incentives, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 16, 2023
He gets a base of $12M in Year 1 with a chance to get to $15M. https://t.co/4Vsy2sF1zG
Hopkins can be the safety valve that the Titans have been missing since Delanie Walker started struggling. With the Titans having a pair of young, high-risk, high-reward quarterbacks, he could also be a go-to weapon to help them develop, as opposed to just hoping that Derrick Henry can mask all their issues again. Whether Hopkins is declining or not, this move is still a key upgrade for the Titans.
Silas Walker / Getty Images
Tennessee Titans quarterback, Malik Willis gets out of the pocket to run during a 2022 regular season game in Nashville, TN.
When Does Hopkins Face The Steelers?
The Steelers and Titans will play against each other in Week 9 on Thursday Night Football in Pittsburgh. While the Titans seem to play The Steelers quite often, Hopkins himself has only faced the Steelers twice in his career and hasn't gone up against them since 2017. However, he would probably like to forget his most recent matchup against the Steelers. Their last matchup was a nightmare on Christmas Day.
If there is any solace for Hopkins, it's that he made an amazing touchdown catch that instantly became a play of the year contender for the NFL. That was the lone bright spot for Hopkins and the Houston Texans during a 34-6 massacre, where nothing else really went right for the Texans. It didn't help that Vince Williams celebrated a Hopkins drop by trying to snuggle with him in the end zone.
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Linebacker Vince Williams became a fan favorite with the Steelers, as he spent all eight years of his NFL career in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers will likely also have their own former Arizona Cardinals players lined up across from Hopkins with Patrick Peterson. Although the two players were only teammates for one season, they probably saw plenty of each other in practice and training camp. Both players were formerly at the very top of their position group in the NFL. There will be some scores to settle on the field come game time. With the Titans' lack of receiving threats, Peterson could end up having some help against Hopkins.
Before it gets to Week 9, the Steelers will be watching to see if Hopkins falls off. It's hard to tell where Hopkins will be at this point. He can continue to be a game-wrecker that makes it hard on defensive backs, or he could drop off and give the corner a solid one-on-one matchup with him, or something in the middle. There is a lot that could happen, and the Steelers will be paying close attention, especially as it gets closer to game day.
What do you think of the Titans signing Hopkins? Let us know down in the comments.
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