The 1-5 Tennessee Titans admitted the obvious by trading superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday. The Titans received a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft from Kansas City that could end up being a fourth-rounder if certain incentives are met in a deal that sent social media ablaze. In a separate move just hours later, the Titans continued their rebuild by trading linebacker Ernest Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks for fellow linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth-round selection.
Hopkins' departure leaves Calvin Ridley as the lone proven playmaker under contract at receiver for the Titans next season. Current slot receiver Tyler Boyd is also playing on an expiring contract, and Ridley will continue playing the "Z/flanker" position while Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Treylon Burks (when healthy) will replace Hopkins at "X."
In the wake of the Hopkins trade, the Titans will need to spend a portion of the offseason looking for an "X" replacement. It's a critical boundary-receiver position in Brian Callahan's offense, and the Titans don't have a long-term successor for Hopkins on the roster. We've identified three potential replacements in the offseason.
Draft: Travis Hunter, WR, Colorado
The Titans are currently scheduled to own the No. 4 overall selection in April's 2025 NFL Draft. After trading Hopkins and Jones, Tennessee should remain in contention for the top pick all season long. Colorado's Travis Hunter has arguably been college football's most impressive talent this campaign.
A two-way talent playing wide receiver and cornerback, Hunter has positioned himself at the forefront of the Heisman conversation. As a pass catcher, Shedeur Sanders' go-to target has totaled 51 receptions for 604 yards and six touchdowns this season. Given that the top-paid receiver in the league currently earns $11 million more annually than the top-paid corner, Hunter could opt to focus on playing wideout at the next level.
Free Agency: Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Coach Callahan spent four seasons (2020-23) coaching Tee Higgins in Cincinnati as the Bengals' offensive coordinator. In that time frame, Higgins accumulated 257 catches for 3,684 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns. Higgins is a big-bodied boundary receiver that projects as an ideal like-for-like replacement for Hopkins.
Higgins is playing out the 2024 campaign on the franchise tag. He initially requested a trade in the offseason after failing to reach an agreement with Cincinnati on a long-term contract. The Bengals can ill-afford to re-sign Higgins this summer given negotiations with fellow receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Furthermore, he hails locally from Oak Ridge, where he once won Tennessee's "Mr. Football" award.
Draft: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver prospect Tetairoa McMillan is in contention to be the first receiver drafted in April. He projects as a top-10 selection, and given the nature of their current play, the Titans are all but assured a high pick in 2025. McMillan is a towering playmaker with prototypical "X" receiver size.
McMillan has recorded 47 receptions for 780 receiving yards and four touchdowns this season. The Hawaii native has cooled off since producing a historic 304 yards and four touchdowns against New Mexico in his 2024 campaign debut. Callahan appreciates receivers with McMillan's measurables and athleticism.