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What this means for Titans, Will Levis

Well, there's the supposed offseason strength of the Tennessee Titans' offense.

The Titans (1-5) are reportedly trading star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to multiple media reports Wednesday morning. The move puts the Titans in a strange predicament. The stated goal for this season is to develop quarterback Will Levis and establish him in first-year coach Brian Callahan's offense, but now the Titans will be without their most reliable pass-catcher for the remainder of the season.

The move also raises questions about the rest of the Titans' roster and who may be on the trade block before the Nov. 5 deadline.

Here's what the DeAndre Hopkins transfer means for the Tennessee Titans.

DeAndre Hopkins trade: Who do the Titans have left at receiver?

The Titans only have four receivers left on the active roster: veterans Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and rookie Jha'Quan Jackson. Former first-round pick Treylon Burks is on injured reserve with a knee injury, and 2023 seventh-round pick Colton Dowell is on the physically unable to perform reserve list. The Titans have three receivers on their practice squad: rookie Bryce Oliver, veteran Mason Kinsey and Tay Martin, who the Titans signed after the end of training camp.

Westbrook-Ikhine appears to be the biggest beneficiary of reps in Hopkins' absence, especially while Burks is injured. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Oliver is the Titans' next option for a larger-bodied receiver to replicate what Hopkins did. Jackson has served primarily as a punt and kickoff returner this season and could see an increase in his usage, but his role barely aligns with Hopkins'.

Positive: No DeAndre Hopkins gives the Titans the potential to play faster

The trio of Ridley, Hopkins and Boyd gave the Titans plenty of experience and skill, but limited the offense when it came to verticality. Hopkins and Boyd are hardly speed threats at this point in their careers, leaving Ridley as the only option who can stretch the field.

The Titans now have the opportunity to transform their passing offense into a more varied attack that will destroy opponents further down the field. This would mean relying more heavily on some of the Titans' younger playmakers or adding someone off the street. Simply promoting Westbrook-Ikhine to the Hopkins role doesn't change anything. But this opportunity could free up space against restrictive secondaries and make it easier for Levis and the Titans' quarterbacks to generate some of the explosive plays the Titans have been missing so much.

Tennessee Titans Trade Rumors: Will This Make the Titans Trade Deadline Sellers?

This question shouldn't be new to Titans fans. When the Titans dealt veteran safety Kevin Byard a few weeks before the deadline last year, it sparked a flurry of speculation about who would be next. Despite near-constant rumors about running back Derrick Henry's trade status, the Titans didn't budge or make any further moves.

Of course, that doesn't mean the Titans won't make moves this year. Veterans like Boyd, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and safety Quandre Diggs are on one-year deals and could be valuable to candidates seeking experienced help in a short-term rental. Outside linebacker Harold Landry III is under contract through 2026, but there is a break in his contract this offseason that may make him a more attractive player for a team that doesn't want to invest in three years of his service time. The same applies to full-back Arden Key, who is still under contract for two more years but has a possible exit in his contract after this year.

One of the other names that could potentially be mentioned in trade talks is star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Simmons has a contract through 2028, making him a valuable chip for a team with a long championship window. For this reason, the Titans would not part with Simmons without receiving high compensation in return, and a team that chooses Simmons would have to be willing and able to factor Simmons' $23.5 million annual salary into its finances .

What does this mean for Will Levis, the future of the Titans?

Look, a receiver room built around Ridley and Boyd is still better than the one Levis played in his rookie year. Hopkins was on a one-year deal anyway, so it's hard to imagine the Titans viewing him as a cornerstone of Levis' long-term future. If the young quarterback can improve his relationship with Ridley, that's still the best case scenario.

However, Hopkins has always been the receiver Levis preferred to throw to. From Levis' best to his worst games, Hopkins was the first choice and constant touchdown target. Without that number, Levis will have to learn quickly. The chemistry between him and Ridley has been off since training camp, and Boyd almost exclusively runs routes from the starting spot. This changes what Levis can do in the outfield, and for a quarterback who is in the process of regaining his confidence and security, that's very important.

There's no denying it: Hopkins' absence makes it harder for Levis to establish himself as a true starter. It doesn't make it impossible, but it hurts his chances.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

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