Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans DeAndre Hopkins TRADE RUMORS, Tee Higgins Chances in 2025 & Remaining Offseason Schedule

Episode Date: June 2, 2024

The Tennessee Titans start mandatory mini-camps this week, but some are still trying to drum up rumors about DeAndre Hopkins not being happy in Tennessee. Tyler calls these rumors complete nonsense and a product off offseason boredom. Next, the rumors also include conversations about a Tee Higgins trade and while Higgins would be a good fit with the Titans, it'll be in 2025 if at all. Finally, the Titans are wrapping up their offseason workout schedule and have training camp right around the corner. Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitans TicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitans Follow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPod Subscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month. eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Wait, does DeAndre Hopkins want out of Tennessee? I'll tell you why this recent rumor is peak off-season nonsense on today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland, Titans fans. Today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is brought to you by FanDuel.

Make every moment more. Right now, new customers get $150 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet. That's $150 with any winning $5 bet. Visit FanDuel.com slash LockedOn to get started. We're going to talk about this new DeAndre Hopkins rumor and why it's complete rubbish, in my opinion. Also, we'll talk about the dream of Tee Higgins to the Titans since that's part of the DeAndre Hopkins rumor.

And I'll tell you what is next on the Tennessee Titans offseason schedule. Before we get into all of that, thank you for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. You're not going to beat that anywhere else. Make sure you get subscribed.

Stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. Shout out to my everydayers tuning in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys. Tennessee Titans mandatory minicamp is this week. I'm going to be breaking it down for you guys every day. Make sure that you stay with me for that. Again, get subscribed. Stay subscribed. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. 25 years a Tennessee Titans fanatic. Cover the

team for Sports Illustrated. Cover the team for USA Today. I've been hosting this great podcast for five years running now. But with that being said, this DeAndre Hopkins rumor, it's stuck in my crawl throughout the weekend. There's no way around it. It's summertime. It's kind of a slower period in the NFL compared to most months. I'm trying to make sure that I have a good work

life balance, all that, but I just I could not help myself. I was so frustrated by the conversation this weekend around DeAndre Hopkins and his status with the Tennessee Titans. So, just to outline what we're hearing here, local Nashville radio show hosts, some people on social media talking about, hey, does DeAndre Hopkins want out? There was some rumor that he scrubbed the Titans from his socials.

I didn't see any of that. He's got pictures of him with the Titans on there. Of course, Hopkins is an older player, and I even talked about earlier in the offseason, if Hopkins wanted to leave, the Titans would let him do that. That was an understanding when he signed his contract. That's my belief of the situation. But it's clear that that did not happen.

And DeAndre Hopkins wants to be in Tennessee. So, you know, these different people saying, oh, Hopkins could want out. Maybe, you know, these different people saying, oh, Hopkins could want out. Maybe, you know, scrub the Titans on purpose. Maybe he wants to be traded to more of a true contender, which I think it's fair to say the Titans aren't Super Bowl contenders this year. So, you know, all of the reasons why I thought maybe Hopkins would want to leave are the same reasons that people are saying that Hopkins could want to be traded now.

And you add in the fact that we're past June 1st. We talk about the June 1st kind of break point for the financials. It moves the money into the next year, post-June 1st designation releases, stuff like that. A bunch of teams got more cap space as of June 2nd on Sunday. bunch of teams got more cap space as of June the 2nd on Sunday. But with all of that being said, it is still complete nonsense. People are making something out of nothing and there is nothing to make. Hopkins wants to be in Tennessee. Hopkins will be in Tennessee this year. And there are some people out there, hey, why don't the Titans just trade DeAndre Hopkins for Tee Higgins? Since Higgins' contract situation still is outstanding in Cincinnati,

and they probably don't want to pay Higgins long-term. They could do a swap with Tee Higgins and DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins makes a little bit less money, so the Titans take Tee Higgins on the franchise tag. All of that, look, I understand the logic behind a move like that, but it's not going to happen. This is, in my opinion, folks, this is peak offseason

nonsense. This is the schedule starting to slow down. There's not as much to talk about. There isn't a ton of controversy that, you know, like and people are trying to drum things up out of nowhere. You know what I mean?

That's what's happening right now. And I know you could say that I'm feeding into that by talking about it. But at the end of the day, I've had so many people this week and reach out to me and ask, Tyler, what's going on with Hopkins? Does Hopkins want to leave? Does Hopkins want traded? But it just felt like it had to be addressed. This is peak offseason nonsense.

Number one, everybody is using DeAndre Hopkins, not being at OTAs last week. Wasn't at OTAs. He's sitting out. He doesn't want to. He was at OTAs the week before that. He was doing charity work with his mom last week. He was at a speaking engagement for young athletes.

These are voluntary OTAs. It's DeAndre Hopkins, the only good wide receiver the Titans had that had chemistry with Will Levis last year, who's a veteran who's been in the league for over a decade. Like, why would I care that he missed one week of it? If he had missed all of OTAs, every single step of OTAs, then you might be able to get me to be concerned. But he was just at OTAs last week.

Not last week from right now, but the week before that. It's not like he's skipping out. You know, like, I just feel like there are little things that people are trying to spin into this narrative that Hopkins wants out or Hopkins wants to leave. Like, no. No, he just posted pictures, Titans pictures on his Instagram. He was just at OTAs the week before that.

He has talked already this offseason about being happy where he's at. He's talked about how much he loves Tennessee. The community has really, you know, brought him in. He feels home like, I get it. I do. It's, we're about to the slow period. After this mandatory minicamp that happens this week, there's another OTA next week. I think it might get canceled because that's what coaches do a lot of the time

is they cancel those if guys go really hard and they have good attendance in the mandatory minicamp. Hey, start your summer break early, guys. Have fun. Be safe. You know, blah, blah, blah. But as we get into this, you know, more dead period for media conversation and topics, and there are just certain situations where people try to drum up something out of thin air. And this is one of those situations. So if you were somebody who was

hearing this DeAndre Hopkins nonsense, seeing it on the Facebook blog, seeing it on Twitter, seeing it on Reddit, this is nonsense. I have no other way to explain myself, but it's nonsense. It's content boredom is all that it is. All right. The Titans need DeAndre Hopkins for Will Levis. They're not trading for Tee Higgins. That's not going to happen. The Bengals aren't doing that either. So just let some of this stuff go. All right. Let's talk about who can win certain spots on the depth chart. Let's talk about how much each guy can improve. Let's talk about how people might fit within the offense.

Who could surprise us? Who could disappoint? Let's talk about those things. These nonsensical rumors about DeAndre Hopkins just, I admit it, it got under my skin a little bit this weekend because it's just peak, peak offseason nonsense. DeAndre Hopkins is not asking out. DeAndre Hopkins is not getting traded,

and the Titans aren't trading for Tee Higgins. Tee Higgins will play for the Bengals. Speaking of that, let's talk about Tee Higgins, because everybody's bringing that back up again since his situation is still outstanding. But again, if you want Tee Higgins on the Titans, it's not going to be until 2025. I'll tell you why.

Before I do, I do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Look, it's winner take all time in the NBA and the NHL, and FanDuel is giving you a shot to bring home a big win of your own. big win of your own. Right now, new customers get $150 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet. That's $150 that you can bet on spreads. You can bet on money lines. You can bet on player props. Over-unders. I mean,

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They've been better on the road. Maybe. underdogs. Boston has struggled at times at home. They've been better on the road. Maybe Dallas, as a plus 205 underdog money line, goes in there and takes it. But either way, make sure you visit fanduel.com slash locked on and make every playoff shot count. That's Fanduel, America's number one sportsbook. book. Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about the DeAndre Hopkins nonsense rumors that we saw over the weekend. Now I want to spin that forward to a more realistic conversation, though, that's kind of tied into those rumors. A lot of those DeAndre Hopkins rumors had to do with T. Higgins.

And while I don't think T. Higgins will be a Titan in 2024, I definitely do think it's still a possibility that he could be a Titan in 2025. But before I continue, I do want to thank you guys again for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. On tomorrow's show, I think I'm going to take a look at some recent power rankings and just roster rankings and stuff like that.

Take kind of the temperature of what the feel for the Titans is around the NFL. We know it's way lower than it should be already. And then mandatory mini campus this week, the fourth through the sixth. So I'm going to be breaking down what to watch for, who we need to see show back up, all that different stuff. And I'll talk a little bit about that at the end of today's show as well. But before we dive into the T Higgins stuff, do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans your first listen

each and every day, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always free. Think I already said that, but hey, double dipping, promote, promote, promote. But with that being said, wanted to hit on this T Higgins thing because obviously Higgins was like my number one wide receiver target this

offseason, but I did an episode all the way back in like March or February where I said the Titans could maybe trade for T Higgins because he's going to get the franchise tag. And it was hilarious at the time. All of the people in my comments, does this guy know that he hasn't been franchise tag yet? Does this guy know that he's a free agent? T Higgins is going to be a free agent, but no, he's going to get the franchise tag. He's going to play on the franchise tag for the Bengals because it's an

incredible bargain. It's a little over $21 million. T. Higgins, based on what we've seen, we just saw Nico Collins get a good deal. We saw Devontae Smith get a good deal. T. Higgins should get paid more than them. He's been way more productive. I mean, Devontae Smith has been productive,

but Nico Collins had one good season and got like $26 million a year or something like that. So T. Higgins to me has always been a $27, $28 million guy. $25 to $28 is the range right there. So I tried to explain he was going to get the franchise tag, and whenever I tell you guys these obvious things that everybody in the media knows, there's always people who are incredibly uninformed

who try to push back on it. It's like, come on now. Come on. But either way, we knew he was going to get the tag. Now, maybe there was a chance the Titans traded for T. Higgins when he got on the franchise tag, but they went out and they paid Calvin Ridley, and they went out and they made the trade for LeJarius Sneed. To me, that ended any conversation that the Titans would go out and trade for Calvin Ridley and they went out and they made the trade for LeJarius Sneed. To me, that ended any conversation

that the Titans would go out and trade for T. Higgins. And this new conversation about DeAndre Hopkins, while there is some logic to a Hopkins for T. Higgins swap, the Bengals are simply not going to do that. Like, they're just not going to do that. T. Higgins is not a better player than DeAndre Hopkins. I think they're honestly pretty similar at this stage. But with Tee Higgins being so much younger, it doesn't make any sense for the Bengals

to do something like that. So, look, I still want Tee Higgins on the Titans. I still think it would be a great move to go out and get Tee Higgins on the Titans. I still think it would be a great move to go out and get Tee Higgins. But that would be in 2025. That would be next year's offseason. The Bengals don't want to pay the franchise tag plus. The Bengals let him go. Tee Higgins will still be 26 years old.

Still a great fit in the offense as the pure dominant X receiver to go with Calvin Ridley as the Z receiver. He still knows the Callahan system and will be comfortable there. You still can't trust Traylon Burks. I mean, Burks would have to do some insane things this year for me to trust Traylon Burks going into next year in his contract year, his final year. The Titans aren't going to pick up that fifth-year option. What are we talking about here?

You know what I mean? So, look, you sign T. Higgins in free agency next year. You draft another wide receiver because you need a young wide receiver and you're going to phase out Traylon Burks obviously after the year he'll be gone. Like I am fine

with that plan, but it's not going to happen this year. Now, the worry is if you want T. Higgins in 2025, who, again, Tennessee guy, big family guy, always talking family, seems like he wants to come home. Alright. If you want T. Higgins in 2025, you're still not in the clear. Because what the Bengals could do here is, because of the way that the salary cap has gone up

in the past year, and this has gone up in the past year, and this year especially, in the offseason, the Bengals could tag him again. And if they tag him again, he'll be, I think, $25, $26, $27 million. But here's the thing. Think about that in a two-year span. Like, think about that money over two years.

So, a little over $21 million this year. Let's call it $22 million for Tee Higgins this year. I think it's a little over $25, maybe $27. We'll just call it $48, $50 million total for two years on the franchise tag. If they have them on the franchise tag this year, they franchise tag them again next year. And anytime you franchise tag a player two years on the franchise tag. If they have them on the franchise tag this year, they franchise tag them again next year. And anytime you franchise tag a player two years in a row, they don't get the same amount two years in a row.

It goes up by a lot if you franchise tag them for a second year in a row. And then you can't do a 30, or you can, but it's crazy high. No one's doing it. But the Bengals could essentially tag Tee Higgins twice this year and next year and essentially it'd be a two-year deal worth $48 million. That's $24 million a year. That's cheaper than what Tee Higgins would get

if you gave him a contract. He's probably, again, $25 to $28 million a year. So it actually makes financial sense for the Bengals to franchise tag Tee Higgins two years in a row. He may not even be a free agent next year. Now, I don't think that the Bengals will do that. I don't because whereas you sign a contract with a guy, you can manipulate the cap hit. Like Calvin Ridley's cap hit this year is $10 million, but he's getting $23 million a season on average. You know what I mean? So that allows more cap flexibility. If you franchise tag a guy, what his franchise tag is,

is what his cap hit is. Like T Higgins is $21 million on the cap this year. So the Bengals would probably prefer not to have $27 million cap charge for Tee Higgins next year. So they probably won't do that, but they could. And in aggregate for the two years, it would be a discount on Tee Higgins. So it's not even a certainty that he'll be a free agent next year. Okay, that's not even a certainty. So everybody talking about, not everybody, but the people out there talking about trading for Tee Higgins,

let that go. It's not happening this year. But maybe, maybe, if the Bengals don't want to have that high cap charge for Higgins next year and they want to do him a solid as a person, they'll let him hit free agency. And then at 26 years old, again, pure X receiver, still fits the system, still knows Cali.

Then you go out and sign a 26-year-old Tee Higgins, and I think that makes a ton of sense for the Titans still. But again, it won't be until next year. So the Hopkins nonsense, the Higgins faith continuing. Let it go, folks. The team is the team. They can add a safety. They can add edge. They can add some pieces on the periphery. But we're not going to see the Titans make some big splash move

moving pieces around this year. That's not happening. With that being said though, let's talk about the remaining offseason schedule for the Tennessee Titans. Again, mandatory minicamp this week, but what comes up after that? When is training camp probably going to be? Who do we need to see in this mandatory minicamp for the Titans?

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Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about the DeAndre Hopkins nonsense rumors. We talked about the potential for Tee Higgins to still become a Titan, but not this summer, not this year. Now I just want to break down the rest of the Titans offseason schedule and what's coming in the next few weeks and then into training camp. Talk about who I want to see at the mandatory mini camp who we haven't seen so far. Before we get into it, thank you again for making the Locked On Titans podcast

your first listen. Also want to let you know that Locked On has launched the first ever national sports 24-7 streaming channel. It's on YouTube, and now it's also available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channels app. It's called Locked On Sports Today. Locked On Sports Today is here for you 24-7 covering the top sports stories of the day with local experts from Locked On Sports Today. Locked On Sports Today is here for you 24-7 covering the top sports stories of the day with local experts from Locked On plus

coverage of every league from our national shows. Find Locked On Sports Today now available on the free Fire TV channels app, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, where it's your team every day. Alright, so, mandatory minicamp for the Titans this week, June the 4th through the 6th. That's Tuesday through Thursday.

There won't be media on all of those days, but there should be media on one of those days at minimum. So we'll be breaking down everything that happens from that this week. But again, this is different. This is a mandatory minicamp. Mandatory. Meaning players get fined if they don't show up. All right, now,

they've messed with the rules a little bit here. If you skip training camp, the fines can't be rescinded by the team, but I think with the mandatory minicamp in June, fines can still be rescinded. It's murky stuff in the CBA. Whatever. That's not really that important to fans,

but the point is we should see everybody there. It's murky stuff in the CBA. Whatever. That's not really that important to fans. But the point is we should see everybody there. Like there shouldn't be anybody for the Titans skipping a mandatory event. Shouldn't be anybody with outstanding contract concerns or anything like that. So, who hasn't been at OTAs yet that we hope to see at mandatory minicamp? Because if they're present for mandatory minicamp but not participating that means it's an injury. And some of these guys we haven't heard anything about to know. So number one, Big Jeff. Jeff has not been at the voluntary OTAs. I told you I have zero concerns about that. Jeff

just got a contract. Jeff's a great player. I believe that he would have played the end of last year if the Titans weren't already out of playoff contention. They shut him down on purpose. So, I expect to see Jeff for the mandatory minicamp. LeJarrius Sneed. Now, this is a situation where LeJarrius Sneed can be there,

but I don't really care if he participates. Like, I hope he's there for camaraderie with the team, learning the system, all that, which we've heard so far at OTAs he's been present, he's just not participating on the field. And look, I know that this is going to send some Titans fans into a tizzy. No way around it. But,

the Titans do need to manage his knees. Kansas City managed his knees. That is something that they did. You know what I mean? And to me, it's not one of those things where it's like, oh, no, he's got knee issues. The Titans messed up. They gave him a big contract.

He's hurt. This is the same thing that Kansas City did with LeJarius Sneed. Nobody batted it on. Nobody cared when Kansas City did it this way. So I'm not gonna freak out because the Titans are being smart about the knees and manage them too so I just want him there in the building learning the system making an impact on the younger players giving them advice giving them feedback maybe he's out on the field for a couple of days maybe he's not out on the

field for a day or two I just want him in the building all right but I'm not expecting Legereus need to go out there and play. It's not that important. He's not one of these younger players that needs to prove it or hasn't been in the NFL for a long time to understand all the different systems and stuff like that. To bring it full circle this episode, DeAndre Hopkins. Not because I'm worried about Hopkins, which I just explained I wasn't,

but I just don't want to hear anymore about this Hopkins nonsense from anybody so I hope he's just there. Okay. Harold Landry another guy who has not been present at the voluntary OTAs would like to have him in the building. You know I just want to see some of these guys

back with the team building the chemistry in the building all of that. So I'll dive more into who I want to see out there, who needs to be back at OTA or at mandatory minicamp, all that, probably tomorrow or the day after. But going forward, after the mandatory minicamp, there is one more voluntary OTA.

And it is from June 10th through June 13th. Not this week, but next week. And like I have said, a lot of the time, if guys go hard in the mandatory mini camp and there's good participation and good attendance, blah, blah, blah,

the coaches will just cancel that. Go start your vacations. You're off. Come back for training camp. So that might happen. Be prepared for that. That final OTA may never actually happen. And then finally, we have the break.

There's the long break from either the end of mandatory minicamp or the end of that next OTA. And then the Titans will come back the last week of July for training camp. So we got that big long break, the summer month, which is crazy because there's some momentum right now in the NFL to remove that summer break. And what they want to happen is not have these OTAs in May and early June and just move them all to right before training camp. So instead of these six weeks of OTAs or four weeks of OTAs

right now, they'll just put it at the end of June, late July. So once you come back in the end of June, you do the OTA ramp up and then you start training camp at the end of July and then you go into the season. So basically, instead of giving the players and the coaches and staff and all that a break from middle June to end of July, it would just be, you know, draft time all the way to the middle of June would be the break. I personally like it the way that it is.

I like having that summer break, and I know for a lot of the coaches and the staff for football want it to stay that way because that's when their kids are out of school. So they can go on vacations, and they can be with their family. If you do that in April and in May, there are a lot of kids who are still in school, and a lot of these coaches, a lot of these staff members, a lot of these people will not get to be with their family as much.

But from the player's perspective, ramping up the way that they are right now and then taking a big six weeks break and then coming back for how heavy training camp is, that doesn't make a lot of sense to your body either. So from a player health perspective, it does make sense to have that break April and May, and then middle of June, you're back,

and it's June until February. You're working. So it does make sense from a player health perspective and a training perspective, but from a life and a human being perspective, it makes a lot of sense to leave it the way that it is. So it'll be curious to see what the NFL does going forward. But again, mandatory minicamp this week,

the final OTA the week after that, which could or could not be canceled. And then training camp, which I think will start July 23rd or July 30th for the Titans. We haven't heard the official word yet, but I'll make sure to let you guys know as soon as we do. But with that being said, that is going to do it for today's show. As always,

I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.