As the Tennessee Titans find themselves on a downward spiral in 2024, speculation surrounding a potential trade for star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has intensified. On Wednesday, the Titans made the decision to trade the future Hall of Famer to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick.
From the Titans' perspective, this move was a no-brainer. With a disappointing 1-5 record and Hopkins, 32, in the final year of his contract, the trade makes sense. However, considering last season's circumstances, a deal was far from guaranteed.
Last year, the Titans faced a similar situation with running back Derrick Henry, who many believed should have been traded. Ultimately, the team opted not to, seemingly out of sentiment for the franchise icon. While it was gratifying to see Henry contribute to a Week 18 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee paid a steep price for their emotional decision, as he walked in free agency in 2024 without any return.
Despite expressing a desire to remain in Nashville—even as the team's season unraveled—there were concerns that the Titans might choose to honor Hopkins' wishes out of respect. There was also speculation that they would retain Hopkins to provide as many weapons as possible for rookie quarterback Will Levis.
Fortunately, general manager Ran Carthon learned from last year's mistakes and opted to secure some value for Hopkins, enabling the team to rebuild. While the conditional fifth-round pick may not seem substantial, it is certainly a better outcome than the nothing the Titans received for Henry last year.
