Receivers Hopkins, Ridley Potentially Give Tennessee Titans a Dual Threat They Haven't Seen in a Generation

DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley each gained 1,000-plus yards as receivers in 2023. Now they will line up together for the Tennessee Titans.

Jacksonville Jaguars v Tennessee Titans / Justin Ford/GettyImages

NASHVILLE — If all goes according to plan, Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins will achieve something that hasn't been done by a pair of Tennessee Titans wide receivers in 20 years.

The 2004 season was largely forgettable. Quarterback Steve McNair was injured and played only eight games. The Titans finished 5-11. But Drew Bennett and Derrick Mason were a handful in the passing game, combining for 176 receptions, 2,415 yards, and 18 touchdowns.

In 2024, Hopkins and Ridley were the brightest lights in their respective teams' passing offenses — Hopkins for the Titans, Ridley in Jacksonville. Each receiver gained 1,000-plus yards.

As their teams' primary threats, Hopkins and Ridley also faced press coverage as much as any receivers in the NFL. Their production was inconsistent as a result:
- Ridley, four games of 100 yards or more but nine games of 40 or fewer yards;
- Hopkins, three 100-plus games and five games of 40 or fewer yards.

Now, Hopkins and Ridley are together and the possibilities are promising to say the least. Their combined 2023 production puts them and the Titans in good company.

2,000-yard titans

Entering the 2024 season, 11 NFL teams will have pairs of receivers who together gained more than 2,000 yards combined in 2023. The Tennessee pairing of DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley is included to show their 2024 potential. Ridley was a 1,000-yard receiver with Jacksonville in 2023 and joined the Titans this offseason as a free agent. 

MIAMI
Tyreek Hill-Jaylen Waddle
191 receptions
2,813 yards
17 touchdowns

PHILADELPHIA
A.J. Brown-DeVonta Smith
187 receptions
2,522 yards
14 touchdowns

DALLAS
CeeDee Lamb-Jake Ferguson
206 receptions
2,510 yards
17 touchdowns

DETROIT
Amon St. Brown-Sam LaPorta
205 receptions
2,404 yards
20 touchdowns

SAN FRANCISCO
Brandon Aiyuk-George Kittle
140 receptions
2,362 yards
13 touchdowns

TAMPA BAY
Chris Godwin-Mike Evans
162 receptions
2,279 yards
15 touchdowns

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Puka Nacua-Cooper Kupp
164 receptions
2,223 yards
11 touchdowns

CHICAGO
D.J. Moore-Cole Kmet
169 receptions
2,083 yards
14 touchdowns

TENNESSEE
DeAndre Hopkins-Calvin Ridley*
151 receptions
2,073 yards
15 touchdowns
* Ridley played for Jacksonville in 2023

MINNESOTA
Justin Jefferson-T.J. Hockenson
163 receptions
2,034 yards
10 touchdowns

SEATTLE
D.K. Metcalf-Tyler Lockett
145 receptions
2,009 yards
13 touchdowns

Hopkins spoke to reporters during the recent NFL Owners meetings to promote flag football. He also expressed excitement about lining up with Ridley.

"(Calvin) and I on the field, it's going to be hard to key on one of us," Hopkins told tennesseetitans.com. "I think it is only going to make defenses have to prepare a little harder for us this year. … I think my game is not just being on the outside or on the inside. I've tried to take pride in that over the past couple of years, focusing on beating guys on the inside. Earlier in my career I was just kind of really on the outside and I realized that I could have success everywhere on the field. And I think just utilizing me wherever I am needed, if it is blocking, chipping, doing whatever I need. Wherever I can be useful, that's where I'll be.

"I think the sky is the limit (for this offense), especially after getting a guy like Calvin. So I am very excited about this offense."

Titans coach Brian Callahan, who directed a powerhouse offense in Cincinnati, takes over an offense that scored only 18 points a game in 2023. In fact, the Titans have not scored 30 or more points in a single game since Week 17 in 2021.

Callahan seems confident that signing Ridley will not only help Hopkins face fewer double-teams and press coverages but free up opportunites for Treylon Burks and the other receivers.

"Being able to move Calvin around is going to be exciting," Callahan told tennesseetitans.com. "But I think the other guys, being able to move those guys around, too, will be helpful. Moving Hop around, trying to get him some matchups, put his skill set in good position against lesser players. We'll see what Treylon (Burks) can do as we move him around.

"I just think it's a good group that has some flexibility, particularly with Calvin. I think he has played all over the formation, so that part to me is exciting."

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