DeAndre Hopkins Reveals Two Priorities for Picking a Team as Kay Adams Sparks Bengals Rumors
Dec 24, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) walks to the locker room before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images At this stage of his career, DeAndre Hopkins is no longer deciding where he can put up numbers. He is deciding where his résumé will end.
The veteran receiver’s next contract is less about targets and more about timing, fit, and the shrinking window to compete for a championship. Hopkins provided rare clarity on how he is approaching the next stage of his career, outlining the two factors that will guide his free-agency decision while speaking with Kay Adams at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. At 33 and entering what is likely the final contract phase of his career, Hopkins made it clear that his priorities have shifted away from volume production and toward team structure.
“I would say quarterback that’s established,” Hopkins said when asked about the most important factor in choosing his next team. “And the second, I would say, you know, a solid defence. I feel like defence wins championships.
” The criteria reflect a veteran perspective shaped by multiple stops across the league, including the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, and, most recently, the Baltimore Ravens. Rather than seeking a primary target role, Hopkins is now evaluating roster stability, postseason viability, and organizational trajectory. During the same conversation, Adams raised the possibility of Hopkins catching passes from Burrow .
The receiver’s response was notably enthusiastic. “Joe Burrow is one of the best in the game. I’ve admired Joe since he was at LSU ,” Hopkins said, referencing Burrow’s national championship run with the LSU Tigers that came at the expense of Hopkins’ alma mater, the Clemson Tigers.