Bottom Line: Why Did DeAndre Hopkins Pick Titans Over Patriots?

Free-agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins chose his new team on Sunday, signing with the Tennessee Titans over the New England Patriots.

The decision of DeAndre Hopkins came as a surprise Sunday afternoon as he chose the Tennessee Titans over the New England Patriots. Such a shock was the news that, initially, some Patriots players responded to the transaction as "fake news."

Sometimes the truth hurts. Nonetheless, fans will undoubtedly want to know what led to Hopkins spurning New England. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shed light on the situation in the immediate aftermath of the report.

“Patriots stayed in consistent contact with DeAndre Hopkins’ camp through free agency process, but their base financial package wasn’t in the same ballpark as what Titans offered,” Fowler wrote on Twitter. “The good vibes between N.E. and Hopkins from his team visit never translated to a workable deal.”

As we knew heading into the decision, the Titans were the "more aggressive" team in the pursuit of Hopkins, despite the Patriots also hosting him on a visit. Yet, despite what the three-time All-Pro receiver said publicly about what he wants in his next team, like an "ascending quarterback," the main motivation seemed to be money. 

According to multiple reports, the offer from the Titans is a two-year deal worth $26 million. Similar to the contract the Baltimore Ravens gave Odell Beckham Jr. earlier this offseason, there are incentives that could see the money rise to $32 million. 

Judging by Fowler's report, the Patriots weren't willing to offer that same kind of money despite having the salary cap room to do so. Instead, the Patriots will enter training camp with the additions they've already made from free agency, like receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki. 

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