Right before the Tennessee Titans hit the practice field on Wednesday for their second day of mandatory minicamp, news broke that the team was scheduled to host DeAndre Hopkins on a free-agent visit.
After practice, head coach Mike Vrabel met with the media and confirmed that is indeed the case.
“The first thing is that we want players who want to be here,” he said, per John Glennon of Nashville Post. “We want people that want to be here and then we’ll work through anything else. So we’ve brought in a bunch of different players.
“DeAndre is somebody we’ll bring in… and go through the same visit we go through with everybody, and then start the process.”
Putting aside the money and history of aging star receivers seeing their final days in Nashville, the Titans could certainly use Hopkins’ services after neglecting the wide receiver position this offseason.
Despite that, Vrabel said he isn’t chasing anyone and reiterated his desire to bring in “people that want to be here.”
“I’m past the recruiting — I did that in college,” Vrabel said. “We really just want people that want to be here, and then if that works out, then you go on to the next step. So this will be pretty much it until we sign or don’t sign the next player.”
Assuming he can play at or near the level he has during his career, Hopkins would be a game-changer for Tennessee’s offense when combined with Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo.
Speaking of Burks, he was asked about a potential addition of Hopkins. He praised the veteran wideout but also went on to back the guys who are already on the roster.
“100 percent — he would be a great mentor,” Burks said. “I watched D-Hop since I was younger, one of my favorite players. He just carries himself the right way, and then his game on the field speaks for itself.
“He’s an awesome player, great player. It would be fun to play with him. if we end up getting him, we get him. If we don’t, then we don’t. No offense to him. He’s a great player. I like playing with who we have here.”
