DeAndre Hopkins
Getty
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The Baltimore Ravens seemed like they were getting a steal with veteran wwide receiver DeAndre Hopkins — a true WR2 or WR3 option on a 1-year, $5 million contract on a team that was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender.
At the end of the 2025 season, Hopkins had barely seen the ball as the Ravens finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs. The 5-time NFL All-Pro and 5-time Pro Bowler finally made his true feelings known on Monday.
Hopkins was responding to a post from Ravens reporter Nic Mason, who shared a video of Hopkins’ 1-handed touchdown catch — in the red zone — in the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
“If the Ravens are in the market for a veteran wide receiver, which I suspect they are, they should do a deal to bring DeAndre Hopkins back to Baltimore!” Mason wrote. “What a catch this was!”
Hopkins took a flamethrower to Baltimore’s offense in his response.
“How many times after this do you think I was used in the red zone?” Hopkins wrote on his official X account. “When targeted I’m still one of the most productive but never complained with my snaps & never will. Facts!”
While Hopkins’ post could easily be construed as a complaint, the point was made. The Ravens offense was terrible in 2025 and should have used Hopkins more.
DeAndre Hopkins Could Still Be Attractive FA Option
While Hopkins may have burned bridges in Baltimore with his post, there’s a good chance another team wants him as a budget, free agent option.
Pro Football Focus put Hopkins on its list of the highest-graded offensive free agent options headed into the 2026 cycle and named his best landing spot as with the Tennessee Titans, where he previously played 2 seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Hopkins coming to Tennessee would also add some extra veritas to a locker room that desperately needs it with a franchise quarterback in 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and a new head coach in Robert Saleh.
“Although the former All-Pro receiver hasn’t seen a full-time role in some time, Hopkins continues to excel as a technician and veteran presence inside the locker room,” PFF’s Mason Cameron wrote. “Entering his age-34 season, Hopkins can still separate at a high level, as his 63.2% separation rate ranks top five among all pass-catchers this season. With Calvin Ridley underperforming during his limited showing, Cam Ward was left with numerous first-year receivers playing key roles. As a result, the Titans’ receiving corps posted the NFL’s fifth-lowest passer rating when targeted (76.3). Bringing Hopkins in to mentor Ward and this young receiver room would pay off.”
DeAndre Hopkins Made NFL History in 2025
While Hopkins was criminally underused in 2025 — par for the course with the Ravens — in a Week 13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, he became just the 18th player in NFL history with 1,000 career receptions.
“That’s 1,000 career receptions for DeAndre Hopkins,” Austin Pendergrist wrote on X. “Get this man a gold jacket.”
Hopkins, a first round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2013 NFL Draft, has approximately $144.4 million in career earnings through the end of the 2025 season.