Ran Carthon discusses possible DeAndre Hopkins extension

NASHVILLE -- Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon does not make contract negotiations public. Still, the idea of keeping wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the fold beyond 2024 is intriguing.

Hopkins, 32, is entering the final season of his two-year, $26 million deal.

DeAndre Hopkins Benefits Everyone

"We've identified a number of guys that we'd like to continue to move forward with and eventually take care," Carthon said on Tuesday. "But you guys have heard me, we're going to keep family business in in terms of talking about their contracts and what's next for them. But we as a staff, we have identified some guys that we'd like to have here long term."

If Hopkins wants to continue his NFL career beyond this season, there are plenty of reasons to keep him in Tennessee.

The Titans most reliable target in 2023, Hopkins led the team in catches (75), receiving yards (1,057) and receiving touchdowns (7) while appearing in all 17 regular season games. Quarterback Will Levis established a rapport with the veteran wide out after injuries to starter Ryan Tannehill forced Levis into action as a rookie. Tennessee finished 6-11, but the two players had clearly established chemistry.

Carthon must keep his options open, however.

Titans Have No Reason To Rush

Former first-round pick Treylon Burks is on the roster for at least two more years on a rookie deal.

While Burks has been a disappointment to date, a fresh start with new offensive-minded head coach Brian Callahan might kickstart his career. Carthon will have to supplement the receiver room organically, at some point. This route would be the most beneficial for a team lacking cost-effective depth.

Tennessee has not selected a wide out earlier than the 6th round in two NFL Drafts under Carthon.

2025 free-agent wide receivers will also be enticing. Players like Tee Higgins and Brandon Aiyuk are scheduled to be available, while Callahan (Cincinnati Bengals OC) and Carthon (San Francisco 49ers staff) have connections to both. Spending at the top of the market every offseason, however, is not sustainable in the NFL.

"(Hopkins) is one of the guys that's on our team, and we've talked about a number of guys on the team to have those conversations," said Carthon. "One thing I appreciate about D Hop (DeAndre Hopkins) is, if you guys have gotten to know him, D Hop is straight forward and D Hop and I, we can have some straightforward conversations, and we have and we do.

"And so D Hop knows how we feel about him, and I think that's a big thing, especially for a veteran at this stage of his career. I think the way he's shown up here, the way he's bought into a new staff, kind of shows how he feels about us and what we have going."

Related: 3 Biggest Questions the Titans Offense Must Answer in Training Camp

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