DeAndre Hopkins addition could make Titans a real contender for AFC South

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The ' misfortunes in 2022 injury hell, a seven-game losing streak to end the season suggest they weren't as far behind the in the AFC South as the layman fan thought. But Tenne see's lackluster offense made it difficult to buy into the idea that it could challenge an ascendant Jacksonville in 2023.The calculus has now changed. , who's reportedly nearing a two-year deal with the Titans that's worth $26 million and can reach $32 million with incentives, Tenne see has enough to make the division title race a fight.That doesn't mean the Jaguars don't remain the favorites. They have a rising franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. They have coaching continuity. They have 20 returning starters nine on offense (plus ) and all 11 on defense.But the Titans' biggest concern, the receiver room, looks a lot more promising now that Hopkins is paired with second-year pro , who showcased improved conditioning and confidence during the team's offseason program.Hopkins' production last season suggests he could still play at a high level. The 31-year Kirby Dach Jersey -old averaged 79.7 receiving yards per game playing with three different quarterbacks , and . Of the eight games he mi sed, just two were due to injury. Those are indications this veteran receiver experiment could pan out differently than the ones with (2022) and Julio Jones (2021).Hopkins provides a major boost to a receiver room that last season ranked in the bottom three in the league in receptions (130), receiving yards (1,590), catch rate (56.8%) and yards after the catch (501). Titans wide receivers averaged 2.6 yards of separation from the nearest defender at a throw's arrival, tied for the worst in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. They were considered "open" (the nearest defender being three-plus yards away at pa s arrival) just 32.2% of Erik Gustafsson Kids Jersey the time, third-worst in the league, per NGS. More than a quarter of pa ses to them last season (25.4%) were considered "tight window" throws (where the separation between the target and nearest defender is le s than a yard), second-to-last in the league, per NGS.Hopkins makes the lives of Burks, second-year tight end Chig Okonkwo and the rest of the Titans pa s catchers easier. He gives quarterback a dependable target. He gives Tenne see a pa sing game that can threaten opposing defenses, an overall unit that can take pre sure off a still-elite , who regularly faces stacked boxes.The Titans Connor Murphy Women Jersey will couple a more respectable offense with their reliably strong defense, one that could be even better with the return of standout pa s rusher , Tenne see's sack leader from 2019-21. Landry mi sed all of last season with a torn ACL.The Titans' depth concerns, on both sides of the ball, are still there. Uncertainty shrouds a new-look offensive line, one that will be without right tackle for the first six weeks of the season due to a violation of the league's gambling policy.But we know what coach Mike Vrabel is capable of, how he finds ways to maximize his team regardle s of personnel. And Tenne see's floor is raised with Hopkins in the picture.This looks like a team that can make life harder for Jacksonville in its division and contend for a playoff spot, like it always has in the Vrabel era.Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tenne sean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tenne see. You can follow Ben on Twitter at . NFL trending in this topic
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