The Dallas Cowboys would be an excellent destination for this veteran receiver.
Inside the Star’s Mario Herrera Jr. proposed a trade where the Cowboys would obtain five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Herrera contends that while Hopkins had a strong season with 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns despite subpar quarterback play, the Titans might prioritize youth and draft capital.
“Tennessee may aim to get younger at the receiver position to support second-year QB Will Levis, making the 32-year-old Hopkins expendable,” writes Herrera Jr. “With only four 2025 draft picks and just one in the top three rounds, the Titans could benefit from acquiring additional picks. Dallas should offer a 5th-round pick for Nuk.”
Why the Cowboys Would Acquire DeAndre Hopkins
Adding Hopkins would provide the Cowboys with a reliable third receiver, particularly after releasing Michael Gallup Jr. this offseason. Herrera emphasizes that the Titans would need to absorb some of Hopkins’ 2024 salary due to the Cowboys’ tight salary cap situation.
“The Titans would need to take on some of his 2024 salary for this trade to work,” writes Herrera. “Stephen Jones would balk at his current $18 million cap hit.”
Hopkins, who initially signed an $81 million extension in 2017 with the Houston Texans, is nearing the final year of a two-year, $26 million deal he signed with the Titans in 2023.
The prospect of the Cowboys adding another veteran receiver is realistic. Entering training camp, Dallas is expected to have CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks as their top two receivers, with younger, less proven players like Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and rookie Ryan Flournoy competing for the slot position.
Tolbert has recorded just 29 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns in his first two seasons, while Turpin has mainly been a return specialist, with 13 catches for 136 yards and three touchdowns in his career.
Why the Titans Likely Won’t Trade DeAndre Hopkins
Even though the Titans may not be strong Super Bowl contenders this season with Will Levis as the starting quarterback, trading away Hopkins, their most reliable receiver, seems unlikely. Despite his age, Hopkins remains the Titans’ top receiver, especially given that Treylon Burks has not lived up to expectations, with only 49 catches for 665 yards and one touchdown in his first two seasons.
Hopkins commands a significant share of the team’s receptions and targets, with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine being the next-best receiver with 28 catches for 370 yards and three touchdowns, ranking fifth in both catches and receiving yards on the team.
While the Cowboys would welcome the acquisition of Hopkins, who hinted at joining Dallas during the 2023 offseason, the Titans are unlikely to trade their key receiver just as Levis enters a crucial developmental year. Trading Hopkins for only a fifth-round pick does not seem plausible given his established star status.
